‘Election commissioners must go to jail’ hashtag tops Twitter trend today

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

“ELECTION COMMISSIONERS MUST GO TO JAIL” hashtag has topped today’s (June 10) Twitter trend in Thailand.

Today’s top Twitter hashtag saying “Election commissioners must go to jail” has ultimately underscored public sentiment against the highly contentious acts of the seven-member Election Commission desperately trying to find fault with Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate Pita Limjaroenrat.

Such an exponential, concerted expression of public indignation and displeasure with the polling agency on the daily Twitter trend has apparently followed yesterday’s news reports that the commissioners finally resolved to look into allegations that Pita had been “well aware” of his having been disqualified by law to run for MP in the May 14 election due to his holding of a 0.0035% share in an off-air ITV channel.

Pita’s Move Forward has become the country’s most popular, largest party, a total of 151 contestants of which have won the nationwide election in both constituency-based and party-listed modes.

A legal action could possibly be filed against those commissioners on charges of abusing their power and persecuting the Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate in undue, unjust fashion.

Though the commissioners rejected relevant petitions earlier lodged against Pita which could have otherwise been forwarded to the Constitutional Court, they opted out by proceeding with a criminal lawsuit in accordance with the constitution’s organic law pertaining to the election for MPs which could possibly be brought against him in a court of justice instead.

If found guilty by court as charged, the Move Forward leader/prime minister-designate could possibly be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in jail and a 20-year ban from the political arena.

Meanwhile, Election Commission secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee has confirmed Pita will very likely be verified as MP among others by the polling agency which is legally obliged to do so within a 60-day time after the May 14 election.

After a minimum of 95% of all elected lawmakers, accounting for 475, have been verified, they will convene for the first time in a House session to pick a House speaker and to be followed at a one-week interval by a joint House/Senate session to pick a prime minister.

An eight-partner coalition has been set up with a combined force of 312 MPs and Pita to take the helm of government but he is needing yea votes from more than half the combined total of 500 MPs and 250 senators or at least 376 votes.

CAPTIONS:

Top and Front Page: Some of the Election commissioners. Photos: Matichon

Insert: Twitter headquarters in San Francisco. File photo: AP/ Godofredo A. Vásquez and published by NBC News

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