Democrat Party spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng has warned against a signature-collecting campaign to oppose the dissolution of the Future Forward Party (FFP) in a loan case, saying this is tantamount to pressuring the Constitutional Court.
He said that it is best for all involved to wait for the court's ruling on its fate, adding that such a campaign sets a bad precedent.
Some 150 well-known figures have backed an online petition on Change.org to oppose any disbandment of the party. They include social critic Sulak Sivaraksa, former Thammasat University rector Charnvit Kasetsiri, academic Nidhi Eoseewong, academic Seksan Prasertkul and former election commissioner Gothom Arya.
It was reported that more than 15,000 people have already signed the petition.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit thanked those who launched the campaign, saying the campaign has "opened up a political space for all sides to sign in support of a move against the dissolution of the FFP''.
The court will rule on whether to dissolve the FFP on Feb 21 over allegations that a 191.2-million-baht loan from its leader Mr Thanathorn to finance its election campaign was in violation of the organic law on political parties.