the Move Forward Party (MFP), which holds the most seats in parliament—agreed to support him on the condition that he dissolve parliament after four months and hold a public referendum on amending the 2017 constitution, a legacy of the 2014 coup d’état411. This was intended to enable a general election in 2026. Anutin controversially dissolved parliament on December 11, 2025, paving the way for a general election in February 2026412. One issue closely tied to politics and capable of reshaping Thailand’s political landscape is the role of the monarchy. The MFP, which won the most seats in the 2023 general election, was dissolved in August 2024, with ten of its executives banned from politics for ten years413. The dissolution stemmed from the party’s campaign pledge to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse-majesté law414. Earlier, in January 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that the party’s campaign to amend the lèse-majesté law was unconstitutional415. The dissolution of the MFP marked a major setback for Thailand’s progressive movement. It followed an earlier episode in which its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, failed to secure a majority of votes from members of parliament, preventing him from assuming the prime ministership after the 2023 election 416 . The requirement for confirmation from parliamentarians—senators in particular—was a political trap created by the 2014 coup d’état. Pita’s inability to win a parliamentary majority, despite the MFP’s electoral victory, was attributed largely to the party’s campaign to amend the lèse-majesté law417. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), prosecutions of activists under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse-majesté law, have been reported less frequently over the past two years under the civilian government418. However, following the mass protests of 2020–2021, during which many pro-democracy activists were “People’s Party Decides to Support Anutin Charnvirakul for PM With Conditions.” The Nation, 3 Sep. 2025, www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40054898. 412. “PM Anutin Announces Return of Power to the People.” Bangkok Post, 11 Dec. 2025, www.bangkokpost. com/thailand/politics/3154743/pm-anutin-announces-return-of-power-to-the-people. 413. “Court Dissolves Move Forward Party.” Bangkok Post, 7 Aug. 2025, www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ politics/2843182/court-dissolves-move-forward-party. 414. Ibid. 415. “Court Rules Pita, Move Forward’s Article 112 Campaign Unconstitutional.” The Nation, 31 Jan. 2024, www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40035184. 416. “Thailand’s Pita Fails PM Bid After Losing Parliament Vote.” Reuters, 13 July 2023, www.reuters.com/ world/asia-pacific/thailands-pita-fails-pm-bid-after-losing-parliament-vote-2023-07-13. 417. Ratcliffe, Rebecca, and Navaon Siradapuvadol. “Thailand’s Move Forward Leader Pita Limjaroenrat Loses PM Vote.” The Guardian, 19 July 2023, www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/19/thailandpm- vote-move-forward-leader-pita-limjaroenrat. 418. “Review of the Situation Regarding Article 112 After Five Years of Its Reimplementation.” Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 19 Nov. 2025, tlhr2014.com/archives/79959. 411. 85