Thailand: Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party has signed an agreement with seven other parties to draft a new constitution, end monopolies, and allow same-sex marriage if they are allowed to form a government, but made no mention of a controversial proposal to revise royal insult laws.

The 23-point agreement states the coalition’s policy plans and priorities as it seeks support among legislators to form a government after nine years of conservative, military-backed rule. Move Forward, along with Pheu Thai, a populist party linked to former Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, dominated the recent election.

“This is another historic moment that shows we can transform the government to democracy peacefully. The purpose of this Memorandum Of Understanding is to collect the agenda that all parties agree and are ready to push in government and parliament,” Move Forward leader Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, who is seeking to become Thailand’s next prime minister, noted.

The signing took place on the ninth anniversary of the military coup that brought army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha to power.

The coalition’s agreement includes most of Move Forward’s flagship policies, such as drafting a new, more democratic constitution, passing a same-sex marriage law, decentralising administrative power, and transitioning from military conscription to voluntary enlistment “except when the country is at war”.

It calls for reforms of the police, military, civil service and the justice process, abolition of business monopolies, notably in brewing and other alcohol production, and the restoration of controls on the production and sale of marijuana after Thailand’s poorly executed de facto decriminalisation in 2022.

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