Thai election authority seeks to disband Move Forward Party

BANGKOK -- The Election Commission of Thailand said Tuesday it is seeking to dissolve the Move Forward Party, with members unanimously agreeing to petition the Constitutional Court to disband the largest opposition group in parliament.

The commission said it found "reasonable evidence" that the party and its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat had sought to overthrow Thailand's system of constitutional monarchy by proposing to amend the so-called lese-majeste laws, under which it is a crime to insult the king or other senior royals. That was a signature campaign policy for Move Forward and its predecessor, the disbanded Future Forward Party.