Thai court orders dissolution of anti-establishment election winner

FILE PHOTO: Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts during an interview with Reuters, ahead of an August 7 court verdict in a case seeking the dissolution of the opposition group, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 25, 2024. REUTERS/Patipat Janthong/File Photo

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday ordered the dissolution of anti-establishment opposition party Move Forward, ruling its campaign to amend a law that protects the monarchy from criticism risked undermining the democratic system.

The disbanding of Move Forward, which won the most seats in the 2023 election, marked the latest setback for Thailand's major political parties, which are embroiled in a two-decade battle for power against a nexus of influential conservatives, old-money families and the royalist military.