EC delays decision on parties dissolution

The EC assigned a legal panel headed by Supol Yutithada to interpret Article 237 and 103 of the Constitution organic law as to whether the case merits a charge of party dissolution when a party executive commits fraud without the knowledge of other executives.

Supol was instructed to provide legal recommendations on the issue within 15 days.

An EC fact-finding panel headed by Bunthan Dokthaisong submitted the investigation result to EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond on Tuesday.

The panel was supposed to recommend to the EC whether there were grounds to dissolve Chart Thai Party and Matchima Thipataya Party after their executives committed electoral fraud and were disqualified.

Under the new law, political parties are accountable for their executives' misconduct.

EC secretary general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn said the fact finding panel gave their recommendations that the EC cannot take recourse over the two Articles in this case, because the law only discussed the issue of party executives acknowledging electoral fraud or failure to take action against electoral fraud, and not about party executives themselves committing an electoral offence.

Suthiphon said the EC may not agree with the recommendations from the Bunthan panel after it receives legal interpretation of the law from legal advisors.

He said the EC's decision on Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya cannot be used as a norm for the dissolution of the People Power Party because they are different in detail.

by Atthayuth Butrsripoom

The Nation