**"The Forward Movement Party of Thailand is fighting the opposition with strong actions."

Bangkok, Thailand - Representatives of the "Move Forward Party" in Thailand state that they will be a serious parliamentary opposition, despite failing to lead the government and losing their leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, due to allegations of wrongdoing. They insist that in the long-term "struggle for democracy," victory belongs to them.

The party received 14 million votes in the May elections in a country tired of conservative rule supported by the military, which has controlled politics and the economy since the 2014 coup. Despite becoming the largest party in parliament, the "Move Forward Party" was forced to become the opposition after the military-appointed Senate, based on the military constitution, blocked Pita from becoming prime minister.

Pita was suspended from his work in parliament following allegations of violating the law for public officials in politics due to his ownership of shares in a long-defunct media company. He resigned as party leader earlier this month, joining several party figures in the background due to a court ban on participating in politics or other legal activities.

Pita says he will return to politics if he wins his case - but if he is found guilty, he could face imprisonment and a long-term ban from participating in politics. The party's strategist, Chaitawat Tulathon, will serve as acting leader until Pita's legal fate becomes clear.

Party meeting on September 24

At the party meeting on September 24, aimed at regrouping and launching the new leadership of Chaitawat, lawmakers from the "Move Forward Party" stated that their task as the opposition is to firmly represent the millions of voters who supported them.

“On one hand, we have a 'democratic' system that is becoming less and less democratic,” said Parit Wacharasindhu, a representative of the Move Forward Party, to a VOA journalist. “On the other hand... we have a society that is becoming more progressive, aware, and demanding of democracy. Thus, it’s a kind of heavy weight between a regressive system and a progressive society.”

From the opposition, the party can call on the government to amend the constitution, which allowed appointed senators to block the party that won the elections from coming to power, he added.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin

The current Prime Minister of Thailand is former real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin from the "Pheu Thai" party, which campaigned against the military.

Speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22, he insisted that he has a "mandate from the people to strengthen democracy, institutions, and values in Thailand." On the same day, the Senate voted to appoint Srettha as Prime Minister, and billionaire party patron Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after a long exile. He quickly received a royal pardon: his 8-year prison sentence was reduced to one year, which experts believe was an arrangement made by the established authorities to allow Thaksin to return and maintain the status quo in the conservative government.

Sretta is counting on populist economic policies, including reducing farmers' debts and providing a $275 grant to everyone who turns 16, to restore the party's fortunes and set her own agenda.

However, the "Pheu Thai" party's shift towards a conservative alliance has handed the leadership of Thailand's pro-democratic agenda to the "Move Forward" party.

“I dream of the day when we will all be equal, and I believe that the 'Move Forward Party' can take us there,” said 19-year-old student Nannapas Chanthasit, who has just joined the party. “I kept fooling myself, thinking that maybe next year it would be our turn, but the conservatives continue to hold onto power.”

The "Move Forward Party" wants to see the military completely out of power, a restructuring of the economy controlled by monopolistic companies, and a change to the law on defamation of the royal family, which imposes prison sentences for insulting the monarchy.

Arnon Namfa, the leader of the protest movements in defense of democracy that have shaken the established power in recent years, was sentenced this week to four years in prison under this law, becoming the latest among dozens of convicted activists.

The "Move Forward Party" is also facing the threat of dissolution due to a violation of the constitutional guarantee protecting the monarchy.

The dissolution could trigger protests that might distract Srettha from his focus on the economy, experts say. However, "we can never be sure about the established authorities' plans regarding the 'Move Forward Party'," said Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a political scientist from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

"For now, it's Pita and the party... but other members may face different charges later. Attempts to significantly change the constitution may also fail, especially if 'Pheu Thai' drags its feet to please its conservative allies. The 'Move Forward Party' could, however, gradually increase its popularity 'if they act as the opposition' and carefully analyze the government's actions," he said.