By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER ELECTION commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has joined Thai Liberal Party under leadership of former police chief Seripisut Temiyavej.
Somchai confirmed today (Oct. 30) he has already registered himself with the 10-MP opposition party but said he is yet undecided whether he will contest the next election under the tickets of Seripisut’s camp.
The former commissioner of the polling agency assured that small- and medium-sized parties such as Thai Liberal Party will certainly encounter electoral disadvantages in the race to parliament, given double voting ballots – one for constituency-based, individual candidates and the other for party-listed candidates.
However, Somchai who unsuccessfully ran for a constituency-based MP under the Democrat Party banners in the 2019 election said he could help the outspoken Seripisut map out electoral campaigns to win a number of MPs in the next election.
In the previous election, Thai Liberal Party did not get a single constituency-based MP and all its 10 lawmakers, including Seripisut, came on in party-listed mode.
Under the amended sections of the constitution, the total of constituency-based MPs will be increased from 350 to 400 whereas the total of party-listed MPs will be decreased from 150 to 100, thus making a total of 500 MPs.
CAPTION:
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn. Top photo: Matichon, Home Page photo: Siam Rath
