10 People’s Party MPs, formerly of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP), may face suspension after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) formally approved a petition to the Supreme Court against 44 former MFP MPs over their proposal to amend the royal defamation law.

Several media outlets reported that the decision was reached at a full board meeting on 31 March. The NACC is now authorized to submit the case to the Supreme Court. If found guilty, the 44 former MPs risk being banned from politics for life.

The 44 include both former MFP MPs who have joined the People’s Party and former MFP executives already disqualified from politics for 10 years following the party’s dissolution, such as former MFP party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, as well as several leading MPs in the People’s Party. 10 were elected to the new parliament.

If the Supreme Court accepts the petition, it may also suspend the 10 MPs from parliamentary duties.

After the news broke about the NACC’s decision, People’s Party leader and MP Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut posted on his Facebook page that it is within an MP’s authority to proposal amendments to laws. Proposing amendments is an important tool for the legislative branch, he wrote, and proposing legal amendments should not lead to prosecution for a breach of ethics.

“What happened today is an indicator that the elite group that holds power in this country is ready to use all kinds of state mechanisms to protect their power base and their own benefit through lawfare,” he wrote, noting that the MPs will do their jobs to the best of their abilities regardless of the upcoming court ruling.

Meanwhile, deputy party leader Wayo Assawarungruang told Matichon Online that the party is preparing to petition the Supreme Court not to suspend the 10 MPs. According to Wayo, the petition notes that suspending Natthaphong, who is leader of the opposition, will be harmful to democracy, and that Sirikanya Tansakul is still one of the party’s candidates for Prime Minister and should not be suspended. It is also prepared to make the same petition for the other MPs, who are elected representatives of their constituents.

The party is also preparing to file a defence petition requesting the court to dismiss the case, as well as another petition about the NACC’s investigation process. Wayo said that the NACC has not been following its own regulations. He noted that the MPs have not been allowed to examine witnesses or present evidence while the NACC was interviewing officials. The MPs were also not allowed to know who provided testimony. He said that the MPs were not given the opportunity to properly defend themselves.

Meanwhile, one commissioner who is the leader of the investigating committee has been accused of accepting bribes. The party has requested that the NACC disclose details of the commissioner’s involvement in the investigation but has not received a reply.

In 2021, the 44 former MPs jointly backed a bill proposing amendments to the royal defamation law. Their proposals included:

1. Reducing the sentence for royal defamation to up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to 300,000 baht, or both in case of defamation against the King, or up to 6 months in prison, a fine of 200,000 baht, or both for defaming the Queen, the heir to the throne, or the Regent;
2. Moving the royal defamation law from the chapter in the Criminal Code concerning national security so a settlement can be made;
3. Allowing only the Bureau of the Royal Household to file a royal defamation complaint;
4. Adding a clause protecting good-faith criticisms and disclosure of factual information for public interest – the same exemptions made for defamation against other individuals.

A complaint was filed against the 44 MPs after the 31 January 2024 Constitutional Court ruling that proposing amendments to the royal defamation law is treasonous and the 7 August 2024 ruling to dissolve the MFP for committing treason.

In February 2026, the NACC ruled that the 44 former MPs have breached ethical standards and that it will be seeking a Supreme Court probe against them. The move came shortly after the election. Notably, several members from the NACC assumed office with the backing of so-called “blue senators”, who are widely known to be affiliated with the Bhumjaithai Party.