Thailand’s Election Commission has turned to the Constitutional Court to disband the party that won the most votes in the last election, claiming that it violated Section 112 (lèse-majesté) of the country’s Criminal Code. A similar ban occurred to another party in 2020.
Thais over 60 make up about 21 per cent of the population, proportion expected to rise to 38.5 by 2050. On average, they get 600 and 1,000 baht (US$ 16-28) per month, but changes proposed by the former military-led government and the current progressive opposition are deemed inadequate.
The resignation opens up room for the opposition in the House of Representatives. Thailand’s new government takes office today, still controlled by the establishment (military and monarchy), which Pita had tried to shake up. The young leader is included in the “Time100 Next” list of emerging leaders.