No evidence that he intends to “dominate”
PUBLISHED: 28 Mar 2024 at 05: 04
The Election Commission (EC ) downplayed a claim on Wednesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s high-profile visit to the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters on Tuesday was evidence of his alleged influence over the party.
At this point in time, Thaksin’s attend alone cannot be viewed as “political hegemony” which is prohibited under Sections 28 and 29 of the natural law on political events, EC president Ittiporn Boonpracong said on Wednesday.
All parties are prohibited by law from being controlled or influenced diplomatically by an observer. A party may be disbanded as a result of this conduct.
The EC should launch an investigation into Thaksin’s most recent pursuits, which Mr. Ittiporn was responding to calls from Thaksin’s opponents, who claimed they saw proof that he had a strong influence over the ruling group.
” Unless more details emerge demonstrating then, it is unlikely to be regarded as trying to dominate the party, even if one does so.” And if that is the situation, the EC will then be responsible for taking motion”, he said.
When asked if Thaksin might later travel to visit his political supporters in the provinces, Mr. Ittiporn said that he wo n’t be harmed if the former premier does n’t engage in any activity that might be seen as politically domineering.
Phanwadi Tantisirin, a former red- shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship ( UDD ) group leader in the Northeast, said red shirts in the region are looking forward to seeing Thaksin.
In addition, Mr. Ittiporn provided an update on the progress made by the major opposition party’s petition to the Constitutional Court in order to repeal Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the der majoreste law.
He claimed that the EC has already submitted more papers to the court as the judge had requested.
These papers were n’t new files, but adjustments to ones already provided that were half incomprehensible, he said.
Social activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana had recently submitted the documents, along with his petition calling on the EC to dissolve the MFP, according to Mr. Ittiporn.
The EC is also working on two more party-dissolution situations, one for the Bhumjaithai Party and the other for Pheu Thai.
The EC chair stated that the vote body is already working toward a 30-day deadline to finish investigations into both these cases, which could be extended if necessary.