Death for corruption: New party’s bold fix for Thailand’s graft crisis

The newly renamed Economic Party is likely the first Thai political party to advocate capital punishment for state officials convicted of corruption, as a weapon in the country’s battle against its chronic graft problem.

The party has recently rebranded, changing its name from Zendai (“Thread”), replacing its executive board, and forging a new set of policies.

However, the Election Commission’s website still lists the party as Zendai – number 26 among the 76 existing parties.

A ‘neoconservative’ party

Analysts have labelled the Economic Party “neoconservative” for its mix of young and older members and fusion of traditional values with new economic and technological ideas.

Some claim it wants to position itself a monarchy-friendly option for young voters, bolstering conservative efforts to block the opposition People’s Party from winning power at the next general election, due in 2027.

Conservatives view the liberal People’s Party as a threat to the monarchy and other traditional institutions. The party’s previous incarnation, Move Forward, won the popular vote in the 2023 election but met the same fate as its predecessor, Future Forward – dissolution by court order.

Future Forward, which came third in the 2019 election, was disbanded in 2020 after the Constitutional Court ruled it had accepted an illegal donation of over 190 million baht from its leader and founder, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

Move Forward, which secured the most MP seats in the 2023 national vote, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in August last year. It was found guilty of undermining Thailand’s constitutional monarchy for pushing to change the lese majeste law, Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

Combating corruption

Capital punishment should be introduced for corrupt officials to restore public trust and strengthen the economy, Economic Party leader General Rangsee Kitiyanasap said at the party’s launch in late April.

The “zero corruption” policy was announced as one of four “key pillars” to reverse the worsening economic crisis. Rangsee said it included a new anti-graft law that would carry the death penalty for serious offenders, with no prospects of commutation and execution within one year of the verdict.

“Capital punishment is necessary for corruption offences to restore public confidence, create transparency, and strengthen economic stability,” he said.

Rangsee claimed Thailand’s economic downturn – fuelled by the global trade war and geopolitical conflict – is “10 times more serious” than the 1997 Asian financial crisis that saw the baht devalued and the country spiral into debt.

The three other flagship policies announced at the party launch were infrastructure development to transform Thailand into a logistics superpower; building a land-bridge linking the Indian and Pacific oceans; and reform of the justice system.

‘Not a military party’

General Rangsee, former chief of the Army-run Channel 5, denied claims that his party is backed by the military or serves as a vehicle to entrench military influence in Thai politics.

“I am the only military man in the party while other members are young civilians. The Economic Party is composed of people from various generations, ranging from Gen Z to baby boomers,” he said.

The general-turned-politician also disclosed that he had been approached by Zendai leader Chris Potranandana to join the rebranded party.

Rangsee, 63, said he began working with Zendai in 2020 while serving as the TV station’s chief, when the group was a network of volunteers aiding vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was when he met Chris, then the group’s leader and now chairman of the Economic Party.

Chris, 37, co-founded the Future Forward but left its reincarnation, Move Forward, in 2023 to set up the new party named after his volunteer group. He accused Move Forward of being led by a “politburo” clique.

Zendai contested the 2023 general election but failed to win any seats.

Rangsee left his post as Channel 5’s managing director in March 2022 in a move linked to controversy over the station’s coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Channel 5 had agreed to collaborate with the Russian Embassy in its coverage of the war, sparking accusations that the station had sacrificed its neutrality. Growing pressure led to Rangsee’s resignation.