The progressive People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, came second in February’s general election.

An earlier iteration of the organisation had put forward draft legislation to amend the strict lese-majeste law.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission referred their actions to the Supreme Court, alleging a potential breach of ethics.

The court said Friday it accepted the case, but decided not to exercise its power to immediately suspend the MPs from their parliamentary positions.

The case “carries sufficient weight for the court to proceed with its consideration”, one of the three-judge Supreme Court panel said.

But the court “has not ordered the suspension of the MPs’ duties”, he added.

If they are found guilty, Natthaphong and the other nine newly re-elected MPs could face lifetime bans on holding political office and be stripped of their right to vote for 10 years.

They are among 44 current and former progressive MPs accused over the February 2021 proposal to change the lese-majeste law.

The century-old measure, known as Section 112 in Thailand, shields the king and his family from criticism and carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years per offence.

Thailand’s constitutional court dissolved the predecessor of the People’s Party, Move Forward, in 2024, ruling its actions amounted to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.