EC panel to decide on PPP dissolution

Apichart said he expected the panel, which will comprise EC members and outsiders, to report its conclusion within 15 days so that he can call a meeting of the five election commissioners to vote whether to seek the PPP's dissolution.

It is the EC chairman's duty, in his capacity as registrar of political parties, to propose to the election agency whether to seek a Constitution Court ruling on such cases.

Apichart said yesterday that the verdict against Yongyuth Tiyapairat - a PPP deputy leader - by the Supreme Court's Division for Election Cases, would also be taken into consideration in deciding whether to pursue the case. He said the committee would be set up to ensure the matter was considered carefully. "It's better than I do it alone."

He insisted he was not buying time and said there was no need to rush either. "We can make improvements to make sure we get the complete picture," he said.

According to Article 237 of the Constitution, the Constitution Court shall deliver an order dissolving a political party whose leader or executive member is aware of electoral fraud by any candidate of the party and fails to prevent it or take remedial action. All executives of the guilty party will be stripped of their electoral rights for five years.

Meanwhile, election commissioner Prapun Naigowit said yesterday that the EC had requested the Cabinet to seek a royal decree for a by-election on August 17 in Chiang Rai's Constituency 3.

The by-election is to replace La-ong Tiyapairat, Yongyuth's sister, who was disqualified.

The EC also urged the Parliament president to fill Yongyuth's vacant party-list MP's seat with the candidate next in line, Prapun said.