Interview + Photos: Matt Hunt
Pannika Wanich, a former journalist turned politician, has been a moving force behind three of Thailand’s parliament’s largest progressive (currently opposition) parties.
She rose to prominence as a member of the Future Forward Party (FFP), a progressive political party founded in 2018 that quickly gained popularity among younger voters for its anti-military stance and reformist agenda.
Pannika is polarizing, a woman who speaks her truth in rooms of microphones for men. Harsh critiques of the military-backed government “establishment” and her advocacy for democratic reforms led to her election as an MP (member of parliament) in 2019. Her background as a journalist drove her to lead key communications for the Future Forward Party. She quickly became a celebrated, key figure in the party and a target by many against her open defiance of Thailand’s entrenched conservative and military-aligned establishment.
In 2020, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dissolved the Future Forward Party over allegations of violating campaign finance laws, a move widely seen as politically motivated.
Pannika and other party leaders were banned from politics for ten years due to the dissolution; it also sparked unprecedented street protests that led to broad, open discussion of sensitive topics often protected by harsh laws. Party supporters demanded democratic reforms, a new constitution, and an end to military influence in politics.
The Future Forward Party re-incarnated as the Move Forward Party, and despite the setback, Pannika remained an influential figure, advocating for progressive causes and supporting the newly formed party.
In 2023, the Supreme Court of Thailand banned Pannika from politics for life, stemming from allegations that a social media post she had made years before was disrespectful of the monarchy.
Despite her lifetime ban, Pannika remains a symbol of resistance for many Thais who seek democratic reforms and greater political freedoms.
We spoke about a wide range of topics in Bangkok on December 9, 2024.
Special thanks to the sponsors of this episode: POEM Bangkok, CATALEYA ESTATE
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