The Constitutional Court of Thailand, in a

landmark ruling on Friday (Feb. 21), has ordered the popular opposition Future

Forward Party (FFP) dissolved—banning the party’s executive members from

holding office for the next 10 years.

The court, in its ruling, declared that the

FFP violated election laws by accepting a multi-million-dollar loan from its

leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

The case was referred to the court by the

Election Commission, after determining in December that the FFP had broken the

law by accepting an eye watering 191 million-baht (US$6 million) loan from

Thanathorn, its co-founder and chief.

The commission measured the loan equivalent

to a donation, which, by Thai law, is limited to 10 million-baht (US$316,000).

In its defence, the FFP argued that the law

made no mention of loans. The charismatic, 41-year-old Thanathorn is a billionaire

whose family fortune was made in the auto parts industry.

The FFP was founded in March 2018 as

Thailand was heading toward an election after a period of military rule that

began with a 2014 coup.

The ruling against the party comes just

ahead of a no-confidence debate in parliament set to begin Monday against Prime

Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and several cabinet members.

The opposition party and its liberal and

reformist views has been an eyesore for the government and the conservative

forces in Thai society. Especially due to the FFP’s ever-growing popularity. The

party placed a strong and surprising third in a general election last March and

currently holds 76 seats in the House of Representatives.

Of the 16 members of the FFP’s executive

committee, 11 are members of parliament and, following today’s court ruling,

lose their seats.

The party’s remaining 65 lawmakers could

take part in the upcoming no-confidence debate but must find a new party within

60 days to keep their seats. It was not immediately clear how the 11 empty

seats will be filled.

Hundreds of FFP supporters had gathered at

the party’s headquarters to watch the court ruling. Many shed tears after the

verdict was read.