Thailand’s constitutional court blocks Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s bid for prime minister role
- The leader of the Future Forward Party is accused of breaking electoral laws by holding shares in a media company when he registered to run in the nation’s March 24 election
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party and a former business tycoon, is accused of holding shares in a media company when he registered in February to run in the country’s March 24 election.
Thanathorn has rejected the accusation, saying he had transferred the stakes in V-Luck Media to his mother in January.
The court on Thursday said Thanathorn had to be suspended “from performing the duties of a parliamentarian” until it determined whether he had violated election rules.
Thanathorn called a press conference at the party’s headquarters a few hours after the court order was issued.
“Even though my MP duties are suspended, my MP status is not. And while I am barred from entering politics, I will work with the people, 6.3 million people who voted for the party,” he said. “My bid for the prime minister’s seat stands to stop the junta, to stop the dictatorship.”