In 2018, a group of Thai academics and activists formed Future Forward, a party with progressive ideals advocating for royal and political reform. It was spearheaded by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a charismatic and socially savvy individual from the business world. Future Forward secured the third spot in the 2019 elections, but a year later, it was disbanded along with Thanathorn being barred from politics.
Following the disbandment of Future Forward, its members established Move Forward, another progressive party pushing for similar reforms. Led by Pita Limjaroenrat, a youthful and dynamic businessman, Move Forward claimed victory in the 2023 general elections. However, the party met the same fate as its predecessor a year later when it was banned and Pita was barred from politics.
Subsequently, the politicians from Move Forward launched the People’s Party, a progressive entity advocating for royal and political reforms. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, a young and charismatic individual from the business sector, assumed leadership of the People’s Party.
The interesting aspect is not the succession of parties due to bans, a common scenario in Thai politics and semi-democratic environments. It is noteworthy that each new party and leader essentially follow a similar trajectory, akin to performing the same play with different actors and settings. The core message, characters, and reactions remain consistent across the different parties. This approach allows for the continuity of a popular script, ensuring a seamless transition between leaders and parties.
The significance lies in preventing any one individual or party from overshadowing the movement. The leaders understand that they are not the creators of the script but mere performers, emphasizing the collective nature of the progressive cause. This departure from personalized politics, evident in dynastic regimes like the Shinawatras, focuses on the message rather than the messenger.
The foundation of the Future Forward Party emerged from the collaboration of prominent left-wing thinkers, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and Chaithawat Tulathon. Their adherence to Gramscism underscores the emphasis on the message over individual personalities. This shift prioritizes influencing public opinion, cultural change, and grassroots engagement over conventional party-centric approaches.
This strategy diverges from the pitfalls seen in some Southeast Asian parties, where leaders overshadow the party’s original purpose or absorb external movements, leading to their downfall. Thai progressives aim to avoid this by emphasizing collective action and continuity in their approach. The success of this novel strategy depends on how the People’s Party continues to uphold the progressive movement.