Two days after the Constitutional Court disbanded the Move Forward Party (MFP) and banished its 11 executive committee members from politics for ten years, the remaining 143 MPs who survived the court's axe and some core party members promptly formed a new party -- the People's Party, selecting its new leader and a five-member executive committee.
The new party already faces difficulties.
Forty-four of its former MFP MPs are facing serious charges of gross ethical misconduct as per Sections 219 and 235 of the Constitution for their role in signing in support of five draft bills seeking to amend the lese majeste law.
If found guilty by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions, these 44, including Pita Limjaroenrat, the current leader of the People's Party Natthaphong Ruengpanyawat, Sirikanya Tansakun, and several key party members, will face mandatory life banishment from politics.
This will be a heavy blow not just to the newly established People's Party but also to the aspirations of 14 million voters.
Given the painful lesson the Constitutional Court rendered on Wednesday, such a worst-case scenario is not beyond possibility.
The seemingly relentless effort to use the charter-mandated independent organisations, including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Election Commission, and the Constitutional Court, to deal with parties that advocate reformist policies, such as the MFP raises serious questions about the nation's democratic system, among them the relevance of the current constitution.
Crafted by a 21-man panel handpicked by the coup makers, known as the National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), the 2017 charter is designed to perpetuate the powers of the establishment.
This is evident in the provision to empower the 250 hand-picked senators in selecting the prime minister, which saw Mr Pita miss out on the selection process for failing to get half of the House and Senate votes.
Last but not least is the rule on ethical standards applicable to politicians and political appointees, particularly the harsh mandatory life banishment from politics.
Such a rule was crafted from the perception that politicians are villains and cannot be trusted.
Four former MPs have been banished from politics for life by the Supreme Court for different offences.
For instance, Pannikar Wanich of the defunct Future Forward Party was found guilty of lese majeste, and former Palang Pracharath MP Thanikarn Pornpongsaroj was found guilty of misusing an ID card in the parliamentary chamber.
Even in a normal crime case, a murder suspect may receive a commuted sentence.
But for a politician found guilty of gross ethical misconduct, the mandatory sentence is life banishment from politics and there is no commutation.
Because of the harsh penalty stipulated in the charter, the NACC must ensure that all 44 former and active MPs are treated fairly and given the chance to defend themselves.
The case must not be rushed.
Both the NACC and the Supreme Court should remember that young politicians with new ideas, vision, and good intentions toward the country are Thailand's future, not the visionless old guard who only think of today and their vested interests.