In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP) and current Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, discusses the evolution of Thailand’s democratic renewal with APF Canada Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla.
Under Pita’s leadership in May 2023, the MFP received the most votes and seats in Parliament in Thailand’s general elections. Despite that mandate, his attempts to form a government were blocked by institutional mechanisms, and the Constitutional Court dissolved the MFP on August 7, 2024, and banned its leader from serving in politics for 10 years. The party’s social democratic agenda centered on addressing grassroots issues, welfare improvements, and human rights, while advocating for the demilitarization of politics and economic democratization.
Pita shares firsthand insights on the forces shaping Thailand’s democratic renewal, offering listeners a unique perspective on overcoming institutional challenges and building inclusive governance. He explores opportunities and challenges for Thailand's ASEAN engagement, discusses regional collaboration on critical minerals, cybersecurity, and coastal co-ordination, and prospects for Canada-Thailand co-operation. Finally, he reflects on his own mission for transparent, equitable governance—offering critical takeaways for the next generation of political thought leaders advocating for democratic resilience and international co-operation.
Please enjoy this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations!
