Parties hit by exodus

Forty-six existing political parties have seen a sharp decline in their membership since the regime invoked Section 44 to suspend political activities in 2014.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the Democrat Party has the highest number of members with 97,755 from its previous figure of 2.89 million while the number of Pheu Thai Party members stands at 9,705, a decline from 134,748.

The number of Chart Pattana Party members has plunged from 19,563 to 5,583, the Chartthaipattana Party from 26,022 to 2,886, the New Aspiration Party from 13,295 to 2,168 and the Bhumjaithai Party from 153,071 to 934.

The membership status was revealed on Thursday after the old political parties had been given 30 days from April 1 to update their membership lists.

The EC also announced that 106 new political parties had registered to set up parties.

Seventy-one applications are proceeding without any hitches, 12 have been ordered to make changes to comply with EC regulations, 21 are being examined by the EC, and two have revoked their registrations.

In addition, the EC is currently examining the party registrars of seven parties — New Alternative Party, People Vote Party, People Progressive Party, Ruamjaithai Party, Thai Citizen Power Party, Prachathamthai Party and the Phalang Chart Thai Party.