BANGKOK: Ten newly elected MPs from Thailand’s progressive party, including their top candidate for prime minister, were accused on Monday of an ethics breach over their effort to reform the royal insult law, a move that could see them banned from politics.

Thailand’s lese-majeste law shields the king and his family from criticism and carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years per offence.

The conservative Bhumjaithai party of caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won a stunning election victory on Sunday, according to preliminary results, leaving the reformist People’s Party in second place despite having led in opinion polls.

However, the National Anti-Corruption Com­mission (NACC) said it had referred the case of the 10 freshly elected People’s Party MPs to the Supreme Court on Monday.

The lawmakers include first-choice prime ministerial candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, second-listed Sirikanya Tansakul and prominent MP Ran­gsiman Rome.

They were among 44 current and former progressive MPs accused of proposing to amend the lese-majeste law in the form of draft legislation, an NACC statement said.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026