By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A CERTAIN RUAM THAI SANG CHART candidate running for MP has publicly predicted the Pheu Thai be dissolved by court for allegedly being masterminded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew today (Feb.23).
Without naming names, Chonlanan said the Ruam Thai Sang Chart contestant in question had told the audience on a campaign trail that the Constitutional Court will finally dissolve the Pheu Thai on grounds of being practically dominated by de facto party boss Thaksin who has been residing in self-exile overseas.
The Ruam Thai Sang Chart has planned to name de facto party boss/Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as partisan contender for head of government in an upcoming general election.
Other Ruam Thai Sang Chart runners had bragged during their campaign speeches delivered in the provinces that the pro-Prayut party would certainly manage to set up a minority coalition government, given overwhelming support from 250 senators, albeit with fewer coalition MPs than those in a future opposition bloc.
The setting up of a post-election government needs yea votes from more than half the total of all MPs and senators combined or at least 376. The coup junta-designed constitution empowers the unelected senators to vote for prime minister alongside the elected MPs.
The Ruam Thai Sang Chart candidates have also publicly boasted of an effortless win of more than 25 MP seats in the nationwide election. A contesting party is legally obliged to have a minimum of five percent of all 500 MP seats, accounting for 25, to be eligible to name a partisan candidate for prime minister.
Chonlanan said the Pheu Thai has recently issued a statement to advise the Election Commission to exercise ultimate caution and render justice for all parties which might possibly be accused of violating the Political Party Act leading to a petition by the polling agency for the Constitutional Court to consider dissolving one.
The dominance of a party by non-member persons either within the country or without, if so evidently proven, may be considered a violation of the law, among other wrongdoings, including threats to the rule of state as a whole, thus warranting the dissolution of the party.
But a certain contesting party could possibly look to take legal loopholes during the current run-up to a general election only to mistreat any of their rivals to the extent that they be prosecuted and finally dissolved at a later date, the Pheu Thai leader said.
The polling agency is legally given a maximum of 90 days to compile evidence and conduct investigation pertaining to a breach of the law allegedly perpetrated by any contesting party and file a petition in pursuit of the dissolution of the party by the Constitutional Court.
The Pheu Thai has been taking the stumps in the provinces with Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivering campaign speeches as one of a trio of partisan contestants for prime minister.
Under the name of Tony Woodsome, the deposed premier originally forecast a landslide victory for the Pheu Thai with about 300 MPs in the upcoming general election and made straightforward remarks on the current electoral campaigns and other political issues via weekly live podcasts from Dubai and elsewhere.
Nevertheless, all wrongdoings which may have been perpetrated by partisan members or anyone else prior to February 15’s announcement of the polling agency’s regulations in compliance with the Political Party Act will not be held legally accusable.
Chonlanan categorically dismissed the sustained criticism that his opposition camp had practically remained under the influence of Thaksin.
Neither will the Pheu Thai take steps following the general election to bring Thaksin back home from 17 years of self-exile overseas though the deposed premier has repeatedly discussed possibilities of homecoming as his ultimate goal, according to the party leader.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Pheu Thai leader Chonlanan Srikaew. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attending a Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party meeting. Photo: Matichon
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