Court has no power over EC, say MPs
Constitution Court president Parn Jantarapan, head of the table, chairs yesterday’s meeting of the court’s judges, who resolved to accept a petition on the legality of last month’s snap polls.
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Six angry Thai Rak Thai MPs elected at the April 2 national poll have threatened to petition the Constitution Court should the election be nullified by the Administrative Court.
The MPs met yesterday and declared the Administrative Court did not have power over the Election Commission, because the commission was vested with absolute authority to manage an election. The six MPs are Sophon Phetsawang, Phaichit Sriworakhan, Supachai Phosu, Chamnong Phothisaro, Prasit Janthathong and Teerayut Wanitchang. Sophon said his group was not trying to pressure the court, but the MPs had a right to their stance. He said his group agreed a fresh poll should be called, but that it should follow Constitutional reforms. Phaichit said his group would gather the signatures of the party's MPs and lodge a protest with the Constitution Court if the Administrative Court nullified the election results. Key Thai Rak Thai figures yesterday said the court had no reason to nullify the election results. Wang Nam Yom faction leader Somsak Thepsutin said his MPs would not accept any court ruling that nullified the election. He said Thai Rak Thai MPs believed the reasons so far cited to the Constitution Court were weak. "The MPs are considering their channels to fight. Thai Rak Thai MPs will not allow the reasons [so far cited] to be used to set a precedent," said Somsak. TRT deputy leader Thamarak Issarangura said the six MPs had consulted him and he had suggested that if the election was declared null and void the MPs could sue. "A candidate [carries the] Bt1.5 million-per-person campaign costs, so we should ask lawyers who we can sue and who takes responsibility for the damage," he said. Banyin Tangphakorn, another Thai Rak Thai MP, asked if the election was nullified, who was going to take responsibility for ensuring the Constitution was amended before another election was called? "I will not run again if [rules surrounding the election] are still confused. Who can guarantee a fresh election will not be nullified? Perhaps Thai Rak Thai won't field any candidates," he said. Thai Rak Thai spokesman Sita Divari said he believed all MPs would adhere to the party resolution to abide by the courts' ruling. He said the six aggrieved MPs had the right to demand compensation if the election was declared void.
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