Academics" view that the Election Commission must interpret whether "Thaksin" is leading Pheu Thai and coalition parties or not, in the case of calling a meeting at the Chan Song La house after "Settha" was removed from the prime minister position, revealing that there must be an opening for explanation. Mr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, gave an interview to the media about the case where the Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC) as the registrar of political parties considered 6 petitions that people requested the EC to consider ordering the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party and 6 former coalition parties due to the fact that Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who is not a party member, acted to influence and lead, and the 6 political parties consented to Mr. Thaksin's influence and lead. He believed that the petitions had grounds and ordered the establishment of an investigation committee. The fact is that after the Constitution al Court ruled that Mr. Settha Thavisin, the former prime minister, was removed from office, that evening Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, called a meeting of the coalition parties at his house in Chan Song La. It is understood that this was to speed things up and reach a conclusion on who the next prime minister would be. However, the problem is that according to the Political Parties Act of 2017 (Organic Act) in Section 28, this has never happened before. Mr. Prinya added that the question is whether Thaksin's calling of the meeting will be considered as controlling, dominating or leading. The EC has accepted the petition. The next question is whether the EC will file a petition with the Constitutional Court in the same way as it did with the Move Forward Party or will use Section 93, which requires an investigation and an opportunity for Pheu Thai to clarify first. The principle is that the party should be allowed to clarify first. In the fight, it must be argued that Pheu Thai is not be ing dominated, controlled or led. 'The words control and dominate may be easy to prove, but the words are broad. It is up to the EC and the Constitutional Court to see whether Thaksin's invitation to the meeting falls under the category of guidance or not. If it falls under politics, we will have to see whether it is to the extent that it causes the political party, party members, and party members to lose their independence or not. If so, it will become a problem,' said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prinya. Mr. Prinya added that we must wait and see when the EC accepts the petition and when it will order the Pheu Thai Party and other parties to come and clarify. As for the petition filed to the Constitutional Court to rule and order Mr. Thaksin, the first defendant, and the Pheu Thai Party, the second defendant, to cease the actions that are the exercise of rights and freedoms that lead to the overthrow of the democratic regime with the King as Head of State, according to Article 49 of the Constitution, if it is consi dered first, will it increase the weight of the case of the EC or not? Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prinya stated that using different legal channels. This matter is an action according to Article 49 of the state, which only states to stop the actions, not to dissolve the party. The petition is focused on Mr. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party only. As for the petition that the EC did not file against Mr. Thaksin because he is not a member of the party, we have to see how the Constitutional Court will proceed. If it rules that it really falls under the category of overthrowing the regime, the EC will have to file a new petition to dissolve the party. It is not known which petition will be considered and ruled on first. 'If it is a matter of being sued for overthrowing the government system, we have to wait and see how the court will determine the steps for the investigation. And for the EC, in the petition to dissolve the party, let us hear first whether the EC will file a direct petition or investigate first. Personally, I believe that they have to investigate first in order to have more facts.' Source: Thai News Agency
‘Academics’ view that the EC must interpret whether ‘Thaksin’ is leading the party or not
