Yingluck, Abhisit's MP status endorsed; Reds remain suspended
BANGKOK, July 19 - Thailand's Election Commission on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the second batch of 12 new MPs-elect including prime minister-to-be Yingluck Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party and outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party, but some key Red Shirt leaders, winning candidates on the party list, remain suspended.
The endorsement came after the poll agency cleared the names of the 12 winning candidates of allegations that they might have violated election regulations.
Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayatham said the EC voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaints against both Ms Yingluck and Mr Abhisit, saying neither violated election laws as they had been accused.
Ms Yingluck was accused of allowing former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, banned from all political activities, from joining her on the campaign trail, while Mr Abhisit was alleged to have participated in vote buying after he approved a low-priced goods fair held in Samut Prakan province on June 26, the advance voting day.
The EC concluded that Ms Yingluck's actions were not against the law, as it does not bar a banned politician from joining such political activity. The EC had previously dropped a similar case.
Regarding the complaint against Mr Abhisit, the polling agency resolved that the trade fair was held legally in line with the government's policy.
Last week, the EC certified the first batch of 358 winning candidates.
Some key leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the Red Shirt movement, however, are still suspended among the remaining 130 MPs-elect pending the next EC decision scheduled for July 21 as the investigation is yet complete.
Mrs Sodsri, however, said the growing pressure from some Red Shirt supporters gathering outside the EC office was unrelated to the agency's decision to endorse Ms Yingluck's MP status. She stated that the EC decision was based on evidence and warned that legal action wi! ll be ta ken against those making false and defamatory statements against the election commissioners.Thai law states that the new parliament must convene within 30 days of the July 3 election to select a new house speaker. Parliament then has another 30 days to pick a new prime minister.
The poll body said earlier that it would endorse at least 475 MPs, or 95% of the overall 500, within the given timeframe to allow the House to convene its first meeting. (MCOT online news)
The endorsement came after the poll agency cleared the names of the 12 winning candidates of allegations that they might have violated election regulations.
Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayatham said the EC voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaints against both Ms Yingluck and Mr Abhisit, saying neither violated election laws as they had been accused.
Ms Yingluck was accused of allowing former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, banned from all political activities, from joining her on the campaign trail, while Mr Abhisit was alleged to have participated in vote buying after he approved a low-priced goods fair held in Samut Prakan province on June 26, the advance voting day.
The EC concluded that Ms Yingluck's actions were not against the law, as it does not bar a banned politician from joining such political activity. The EC had previously dropped a similar case.
Regarding the complaint against Mr Abhisit, the polling agency resolved that the trade fair was held legally in line with the government's policy.
Last week, the EC certified the first batch of 358 winning candidates.
Some key leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the Red Shirt movement, however, are still suspended among the remaining 130 MPs-elect pending the next EC decision scheduled for July 21 as the investigation is yet complete.
Mrs Sodsri, however, said the growing pressure from some Red Shirt supporters gathering outside the EC office was unrelated to the agency's decision to endorse Ms Yingluck's MP status. She stated that the EC decision was based on evidence and warned that legal action wi! ll be ta ken against those making false and defamatory statements against the election commissioners.Thai law states that the new parliament must convene within 30 days of the July 3 election to select a new house speaker. Parliament then has another 30 days to pick a new prime minister.
The poll body said earlier that it would endorse at least 475 MPs, or 95% of the overall 500, within the given timeframe to allow the House to convene its first meeting. (MCOT online news)
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