Thanathorn on Thursday requested permission from the Election Commission to form the party.

The auto-parts tycoon then held a press conference the same day under the close watch of the junta, as the ban on political assembly remains in force.

Watana wrote on Facebook that he congratulated the party for its pre-registration.

However, he also slammed the junta, citing what he said was an attempt to block new parties like Future Forward by continuing to press the ban on political activity, or by some sort of allegation of a stance critical to the monarchy.

Watana said he wanted to pass on his moral support to the party, which he hoped would help bring back people’s politics, while enabling more young bloods to enter politics and ending the junta’s rule.