The successful registration last week of the Ruamphalang Prachachartthai Party, or the Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT), is seen as symbolising the commitment of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, the party's de facto leader, to reinvent Thai politics and push for national reforms.

After months of street protests to oust the Pheu Thai Party-led administration of Yingluck Shinawatra that culminated in the coup of May 2014, Mr Suthep stepped away from the political scene and focused his energy on the Muan Maha Prachachon Foundation that he also chairs.

Even so, the leader of the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) street protest movement has emerged from time to time to endorse Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as prime minister after the general election, which is expected in February.