By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PEOPLE’S today (April 24) pledged to slug it out over a legal battle currently besieging reformist legislators, past and present, who remain practically undaunted by a disreputable, sustained legacy of undemocratic rule passed down from a coup to keep them in trouble.
In a press conference at a Bangkok hotel, People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut confirmed his fellow lawmakers will certainly continue to do their legislative duties as usual after the Supreme Court has formally accepted a lese majeste lawsuit filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against 10 People’s MPs including himself and 34 others most being former MPs of the court-dissolved Move Forward.
Nattapong maintained that his fellow lawmakers had never had any design to undermine democratic rule with the monarch as head of state as otherwise accused and that they would certainly fight the coup-generated legal battle to the end. He referred to the 2014 seizure of power of state by former army chief-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The People’s leader reassured that the 10 People’s MPs will invariably continue to play their legislative roles to establish and promote a true democratic rule after the Supreme Court has today accepted the lese majeste lawsuit filed against them without suspending them from work whilst he doubted that the NACC may have performed without double standards in regard to their questionable resolve to not take legal action against the Bhumjaithai-attached, former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob on asset concealment and misconduct charges.
With the highly contentious case to be taken into consideration in the Supreme Court, those reformist MPs who were among the total 44 current and former lawmakers who had earlier signed up legislation to amend the draconian lese majeste law, also known as Section 112 of the Criminal Code, have been practically allowed by court to continue to do their legislative duties.
The Supreme Court had been earlier anticipated by anti-reformist critics and others to order for an indefinite suspension of the 10 People’s MPs from work at parliament albeit with their MP status being maintained pending a court ruling on the case.
If found guilty as charged of “severely breaching the politician’s code of ethics” in regard to the constitutional monarchy, those current and former MPs could possibly be banned from engaging in political activity at all levels for life and have their reformist party dissolved at the order of the court.
The 10 People’s MPs being charged alongside the others with the lese majeste case include Sirikanya Tansakun, Rangsiman Rome, Pakornwut Udompipatsakun and Wayo Asavarungruang and Nattapong whilst Pita Limjaroenrat, the ex-leader of the court-dissolved Move Forward, and ex-People’s MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn are among the other reformist suspects.
In what was seen as a planned reshuffle of the party’s rank and file, Nattapong is largely expected to be replaced by Veerayooth Kanchoochat as People’s leader and instead to be given the position of the People’s secretary-general in place of Sarayut Jailak , viewed as a close associate of the party’s founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, during the upcoming Sunday’s general caucus of the party.
CAPTION:
People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut and MPs addressing a press conference today, April 24, 2026. Top and Front Page – Naewna, insert – PPTVHD36
Earlier reports:
Pita clarifies stance before key court ruling
