Post-election probe into allegations against 82 MPs going on

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

POST-ELECTION INVESTIGATION into allegations filed against 82 elected MPs is still going on to the extent that any of them might possibly be deprived of their MP status at a later date, said Election Commission secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee today (June 19).

Though the 82 MPs-designate were among a total of 500 elected last month and ratified by the polling agency yesterday (June 19), any of them might possibly lose their MP status at a later date if finally found to have bought votes or violated the election law as earlier charged, Sawaeng commented. Those who are among the total 400 MPs-designate running in constituency-based mode include 30-plus attached to the Move Forward-led, eight coalition partners.

The commissioners had concluded that the ongoing probe into the allegations against those elected lawmakers will likely not be finished within a 60-day time as of May 14 as provided by law for the polling agency to ratify a minimum of 95% of the total 500, thus prompting them to ratify them all for the time being, according to the agency’s secretary-general.

The MPs are speculated to convene in the first House meeting to pick a House speaker and a couple of deputy House speakers early next month.

Then, at a one-week interval, a joint House/Senate session will be held to name and vote Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister who will need votes of support from more than half the combined total of MPs and senators or at least 376 votes.

Pita is currently having a combined force of 312 MPs on his side, thus needing yea votes from at least 64 more among non-coalition MPs and senators to become head of a post-election government.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Election Commission secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee. Photo: Thai Rath

Front Page: The logo of the Election Commission overlaid on a man signing a document. Photo: Thai Rath

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