If you touch it, you die.

Thats the supposed result for politicians who confront highly contentious issues. Likened to grasping the third rail, the one that provides the electricity that powers a train or subway, the result is political suicideat least that was the metaphor attributed to U.S. House Speaker Thomas Tip ONeill when discussing the topic of Social Security in the early 1980s, as any politician attempting to reform the largest social safety net for retired American workers would later cost them their political careers at the ballot box.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the prime ministerial candidate of the progressive Move Forward Party, which upset Thailands conservative military-backed parties in the May 14 election, also touched on a sensitive national issue: lse-majest. In the end it was responsible in part in ending his chances at becoming prime minister, as Thailands Constitutional Court suspended his duties as a member of Parliament, and was blocked from a second parliamentary vote. Two lingering questions remain after a month of post-election drama: whether pushing for Article 112 reform so soon was worth it, and whether Move Forward had the foresight to predict this outcome.

Known in Thailand as Article 112 of the Criminal Code, lse-majest (royal insult) dates back to 1908 and warns that anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent is punishable by up to 13 years in prison. The vaguely worded law provides a wide interpretation as to what constitutes an insult, giving those who weaponize it great flexibility. With anyone being able to file a complaint and the police mandated to investigate claims, Article 112 is not only worrisome for Thais, but has become an issue of international concern. Many have fallen victim, even children, as the military government of Prayut Chan-ocha sought to crack down on dissent. In 2020, he vowed in 2020 to use all laws, all articles, to take action against protesters who broke the law, referring then to protesters who defied police use of water cannons and tear gas.

Move Forward first signaled it would call for the repeal of Article 112 in January 2021, taking up a popular challenge from anti-coup and pro-reform protests that began in 2020, and a day after four prominent protest le...