Move Forward Party

The Move Forward Party (Thai: พรรคก้าวไกล, RTGS: Phak Kao Klai, pronounced [pʰák kâːw klāj]) is a social democratic and progressive political party in Thailand. It opposes the remaining influence of the military junta which ruled the country from 2014 to 2019. It was founded in 2014 as the Ruam Pattana Chart Thai Party (Thai: พรรคร่วมพัฒนาชาติไทย) and later changed its name to the Phung Luang Party (Thai: พรรคผึ้งหลวง), but after the 2019 Thai general election, reverted to its original name. It obtained its current name in 2020 after becoming the de facto successor to the dissolved Future Forward Party.

Move Forward Party
พรรคก้าวไกล
LeaderPita Limjaroenrat
Secretary-GeneralChaitawat Tulathon
Founded1 May 2014[1]
(Ruam Pattana Chart Thai Party)
19 January 2019
(Phung Luang Party)
7 December 2019
(Move Forward Party)
Preceded byFuture Forward Party (de facto)[2]
Headquarters167 Future Forward Building
Bang Kapi, Bangkok, Thailand
Membership (2022)Increase 51,526[3]
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left[14]
Regional affiliationNetwork of Social Democracy in Asia[15]
Colours  Orange
Anthem"Moving Forward"
(ก้าวไกล)
House of Representatives
152 / 500
Bangkok Metropolitan Council
12 / 50
Website
www.moveforwardparty.org

History

The party was officially founded on 1 May 2014 as the Ruam Pattana Chart Thai Party.[16]

In early 2020, the party became a de facto successor to the Future Forward Party, which had been dissolved by a controversial Constitutional Court order, as following the decision, 55 of Future Forward's 65 MPs (led by Pita Limjaroenrat) announced their plan to join. They vowed to continue the progressive and anti-junta agenda of Future Forward. The party's name was then changed to Move Forward, along with the release of a new logo similar to that of Future Forward.[17]

The party won 36.23 percent of the vote in the 2023 general election, gaining 152 seats and becoming the biggest party in the House of Representatives, which caused a major electoral upset.[18]

Ideology

The Move Forward Party is a progressive centre-left political party. They are known for their pro-democracy platform and their aim to remove military influence in Thai politics.[19][20]

Some of their policies include the legalisation of same-sex marriage, economic equality, scrapping military conscription, seeking a referendum concerning the rewriting of the constitution and reforming the monarchy.[20][21][22][23] It also aims to amend Thailand's strict lèse-majesté laws, as well as supports scrutinizing the royal budget.[18]

In 2023, the party ran on a platform emphasizing the "3Ds" of demilitarization, demonopolization, and decentralization, which Limjaroenrat said would lead to democratization, peace process, and reformism.[24]

Election results

General elections
Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
2023
152 / 500
 14,233,895 [25] 36.23% Increase 151 seats Pita Limjaroenrat

Bangkok gubernatorial elections
Election Candidate Total votes Share of votes Outcome
2022 Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn 253,938 9.57% Lost Red XN

Bangkok Metropolitan Council elections
Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election
2022
14 / 50
 485,830 20.85% Increase14 seats; Majority coalition with Pheu Thai Party

References
  1. "ประกาศนายทะเบียนพรรคการเมือง เรื่อง รับจดแจ้งการจัดตั้งพรรคร่วมพัฒนาชาติไทย" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 131: 33–66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2020.
  2. "Thailand's Disbanded Future Forward Party Relaunched as New Group, Move Forward". Straits Times. 8 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. "Election Commission political parties information - 1 December 2022" (PDF).
  4. "Move Forward Party to be Future home for 55 FFP MPs". Bangkok Post. Bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. "Stepping out of shadows". Bangkok Post. Bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. "'Progressive Movement' born". Bangkok Post. Bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. "Moving Forward: 55 Disbanded MPs Join New Party". Khaosodenglish.com. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. "Thai lawmakers from dissolved prominent opposition party to join new party". Reuters. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  9. Boonbandit, Tappanai (9 March 2020). "Moving Forward: 55 Disbanded MPs Join New Party". Khaosod English. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  10. "New Thai group to replace dissolved Future Forward Party, SE Asia News & Top Stories". The Straits Times. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  11. "50 MPs join Move Forward". Bangkok Post. Bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  12. "Change at the top?". Bangkok Post. Bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  13. Regan, Helen (10 March 2020). "His party was banned. He faces jail. But Thailand's Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit vows to fight on - CNN". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  14. [10][11][12][13]
  15. "About".
  16. "พรรคร่วมพัฒนาชาติไทย เปลี่ยนชื่อเป็น "ก้าวไกล"". สำนักข่าวไทย อสมท. 6 March 2020.
  17. "Move Forward Party to Be Future Home for 55 FFP MPs". Bangkok Post. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  18. Ghoshal, Devjyot; Wongcha-um, Panu (17 May 2023). "Leader of Thailand's Move Forward party faces hurdles on path to power". Reuters. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  19. Kittisilpa, Juarawee; Ghoshal, Devjyot (24 April 2023). "Thailand opposition leader says unity needed to beat military". Reuters. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  20. Limited, Bangkok Post Public Company. "Move Forward reveals 100-day roadmap". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  21. "Lèse-majesté Abolition Push Is Gaining Ground in Thailand". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  22. Hammer, Jerry (27 April 2023). "THAI PARTY HOPES PROTESTERS WILL BECOME PRO-REFORM VOTERS". Khaosod English.
  23. "Thailand is at a 'crossroads', says Move Forward Party as it seeks youth vote". South China Morning Post. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  24. "Early returns show opposition parties are poised for victory in Thai elections". NPR.
  25. "ผลการเลือกตั้งปี 2566 อย่างไม่เป็นทางการ". ectreport.com.
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