By Thai Newsroom Reporters
DE FACTO PHEU THAI BOSS Thaksin Shinawatra may have broken the law during yesterday’s (Nov. 13) partisan electoral campaign in Udon Thani, according to a former election commissioner.
Somchai Srisutthiyakorn today (Nov. 14) posted on his Facebook page to remark that the billionaire power player may have violated the Local Election Act, albeit in inadvertent, slip-of-the-tongue fashion, whilst publicly delivering a campaign speech in support of Pheu Thai candidate, namely Saravut Petpanomporn, running for Nayok Or Bor Jor or head of the Udorn Thani provincial administration.
The former election commissioner pointed out Thaksin may have breached the local election law when the highly confident de facto Pheu Thai boss told a cheering crowd in the northeastern province that if the constituents voted for the Pheu Thai candidate on Nov. 24, that would virtually be like voting for him.
Though the de facto Pheu Thai boss has been permanently prohibited by law from assuming political positions at any levels due to a previous Supreme Court verdict on his power abuse charges, he may practically assist partisan members in electoral campaigns.
If finally found guilty by court as charged, Thaksin could possibly be subject to a maximum of 10 years in prison or a maximum of 200,000 baht in fine or both whilst Sarayut could possibly be given a yellow card, rendering the Nov. 24 provincial election to be declared null and void and replaced with a new race in which the Pheu Thai contestant who is a former MP may run again.
Currently contesting against him for head of the provincial administration is People’s candidate Khanisorn Khurirang.
CAPTIONS:
Top, below and Front Page: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra giving a campaign speech and meeting supporters in Udon Thani. Photos: Naewna
Insert Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn. Photo Thai Rath
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