By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE ELECTION COMMISSION was today (Jan.5) advised to see whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may practically break the law with the evident use of government property and personnel whilst “paying popularity-wooing” visits to the provinces during a current run-up to the next general election.
Prayut who has earlier confirmed to contest the general election for prime minister under the Ruam Thai Sang Chart banners is scheduled for tomorrow to visit Singburi where he will preside over a demonstrative rice planting activity in style of the government-promoted Bio-Circular-Green Economy in which some government property such as a helicopter and sedans will be used and provincial as well as local government officials will be evidently involved.
Deputy Pheu Thai spokesperson Chayapa Sindhuprai called on the polling agency to see whether Prayut may violate the election law during the current 180-day period ahead of the election date by using such government property and personnel whilst tacitly wooing popularity from among farmers and other constituents in one of the country’s largest rice growing provinces.
“To say the least, the prime minister’s political etiquette, if any, should be questioned by the Election Commission, given the fact that he is not only running the country but carrying out a proclaimed design to contest the general election,” the deputy Pheu Thai spokesperson said.
The constitution’s organic law on the election for MPs prohibits the use of government property and personnel by would-be electoral contestants who may concurrently assume positions in government either during or after working hours.
Prayut who has earlier declared his design to retain power for two more years as allowed by court after the general election is being accompanied to Singburi by Ruam Thai Sang Chart leader Pirapan Salirathawipak who concurrently acts as secretary-general to the prime minister and Digital Economy & Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn who used to represent the central province as Palang Pracharath MP, among others.
Chaiwut has been so far apparently undecided whether he will contest the general election under the banners of the ruling coalition partner headed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan or hop over to the pro-Prayut party.
Prayut who had visited Singburi’s flood victims last October is more or less speculated to talk Chaiwut into jumping onto the Ruam Thai Sang Chart bandwagon alongside other current and former MPs.
The premier who is anticipated to be paying many more official visits to the provinces until the end of the House of Representatives’s four-year term in late March or until he may dissolve the House in the meantime is reportedly scheduled to register himself for Ruam Thai Sang Chart membership next Monday.
CAPTION:
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Top photo: Matichon Weekly, Front Page photo: Thai Rath
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