Interior Ministry to appeal court choice
PUBLISHED: 8 Jul 2024 at 04: 57
Charn Phuangphet, who won the Provincial Administrative Organisation ( PAO ) chairman election in Pathum Thani, will be suspended from duty unless the court says otherwise, according to Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Mr. Anutin stated on Sunday that provincial authorities would follow the Council of State’s ( CoS ) legal advice, which stated that a suspension was necessary because Mr. Charn is still facing a malfeasance trial.
Concerning parties are required to adhere to the court order, he said, citing press reports that Mr. Charn is prepared to ask the jury to make a decision on the matter.
” We’ll do what the judge says. But without a court order, we’ll have to observe the CoS ‘ tips. The government has no bad intentions against anyone, according to Mr. Anutin, in my opinion.
Passakorn Bunyaluck, the government of Pathum Thani, vehemently resisted following the Interior Ministry’s instructions and the CoS’ legal advice on Saturday when handling Mr. Charn’s situation. This implies that Mr. Charn will be fired as soon as the Election Commission approves his triumph.
Mr Anutin, who is also the Bhumjaithai Party leader, insisted the issue is never being politicised, saying municipal authorities abroad will get the same activities. He added that he values his political rival, Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Toopkrajang, as well as Mr. Charn, a former part of the Bhumjaithai Party.
In spite of widespread skepticism from his previous leadership role as PAO president over a decade ago, Mr. Charn, a member from the Pheu Thai Party, won the local election on June 30.
He is accused of being involved in the PAO’s purchasing of relief items during the 2011 floods, which he was finally the PAO chief, in a test in the Region 1 Criminal Court for corruption and misconduct instances.
In another development, the Move Forward Party ( MFP ) is preparing to contest the local elections in at least 20 provinces.
Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, the MFP assistant secretary-general, announced it had started the member choice process in 20 counties and would shortly announce its candidate for president of the northern county of Lamphun.
He thinks that group candidates can fight candidates with strong support from wealthy families if voter turnout is great. He claimed that due to technical reasons, the MFP did not compete in the Pathum Thani PAO competition.
Charn Phuangphet ( pictures from his Twitter profile )