WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Thailand’s Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward Party (MFP), disenfranchising millions of Thai citizens who voted for MFP candidates in the 2023 election:
“The Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and ban its senior leadership from serving in government for 10 years is a significant blow to democracy in Thailand. More than 14 million voters supported MFP candidates during Thailand’s historic 2023 elections, and today’s unfortunate ruling silences their voices. The international community has watched with deep concern as Thailand’s military-installed Senate blocked the MFP from forming a government, and the military-influenced election commission brought a court proceeding to dissolve the party, which has lacked due process and transparency from the start.
“The dissolution of the MFP calls into question Thailand’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law. I strongly urge the Thai government to reinstate the MFP and its leadership, put Thailand back on a path to a democratic, transparent, and accountable form of government, and respect the aspirations of the millions of Thais who called for political change at the ballot box. The U.S. Congress will continue to evaluate how recent developments in Thailand will impact the U.S.-Thailand bilateral partnership.”
###