Thanathorn queries on registration

The party’s tentative co-founders Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul went to the Election Commission (EC) to submit a petition asking the National Council for Peace and Order to allow their meeting to be held on May 27 for their preparation.
They also went to check on the progress of the EC’s response to the party’s registration request submitted on March 15. The EC is expected to reply by 30 days from the date of submission. EC acting secretary-general Pol Colonel Jarungwit Phumma assured them that all parties were considered equally. Future Forward had equal freedom as other parties to register as a legitimate party and was not being scrutinised more than others were, he said. The confirmation letter from the EC could be expected by 30 days after the registration.
While the junta’s ban against political gathering of five or more people have hindered all political parties from any kind of official, collective activities, Piyabutr said that the party saw otherwise as the Political Party Act had been in effect since last October. The party urged the NCPO to revoke some conditions stipulated in its order No 53/2017, which was issued to amend the party act to “facilitate” the registration process of political parties while the political activity ban still remained. Piyabutr noted that all parties have merely been given just over five months to seek 500 members, raise at least Bt 1 million as seed funding, prepare policies and obtain the party’s board as required.