Ombudsman dismisses bid to void election

[snoop1130]

Ombudsman dismisses bid to void election

By The Nation

 

Raksagecha Chaechai The Ombudsman secretary-general

 

The Ombudsman on Friday dismissed a move to nullify the March 24 election but agreed that the calculation method for MPs could be unconstitutional and a judgement would be sought from the Constitutional Court.

 

The petition to invalidate the election was lodged by pro-Shinawatra politician Ruangkrai Leekitwatana who suspected the vote had not been conducted in good faith.

 

Irregularities such as discrepancies in the votes, the invalidation of the ballots from overseas voting in New Zealand and the Election Commission (EC)’s failure to deliver the results should be sufficient reasons to void the election, the politician said.

 

The Ombudsman, however, ruled the irregularities cited only stemmed from the “unofficial” announcement of the election results. They were not fraudulent, said the Ombudsman secretary-general Raksagecha Chaechai in a press conference on Friday.

 

The handling of other issues, such as the controversial ballots from New Zealand, were within the authority of the election authority, he added.

 

In another conundrum concerning the allocation of MP seats, Raksagecha said that the Ombudsman agreed the stipulations in the MP election law may have contradicted the Constitution and said the matter would be forwarded to the Constitutional Court by Monday.

 

The Constitutional Court, however, has decided against giving a verdict on this issue that was brought by the EC itself, saying it was the authority of the EC to handle the calculation of MP seats.

 

The EC was looking to use a calculation method that would allocate seats to parties gaining less than 70,000 votes, though the initial calculation prescribed in the Constitution suggested otherwise.

 

Such an allocation would deduct seats from larger parties such as Phalang Pracharat and Future Forward.

 

Parties and political observers cautioned it was unfair and unconstitutional, although the EC insisted the calculation method followed the intention of the laws that promised to make every vote count.

 

In a related development, Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit plans to meet with the EC on Tuesday to explain his holding of shares in a media company, which was prohibited for those running for MP.

 

Thanathorn had argued previously that he had transferred the shares to his mother before joining politics. But if the EC proves otherwise, the political superstar whose party had won over six million votes, could be disqualified from having a seat in the Lower House.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30368425

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-26

[Thaiwrath]

14 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

although the EC insisted the calculation method followed the intention of the laws that promised to make every vote count.

Except those cast overseas in New Zealand, those who voted for Surapon Kiethcaiyakorn (the one "Orange carded" etc., etc., etc., etc., !

Edited April 26, 2019 by Thaiwrath

[bluesofa]

31 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Ombudsman dismisses bid to void election

Surely this shouldn't be under news, but tall stories circulated by the junta to desperately try and keep their grip on the country.

[Chang_paarp]

Who would have thought?

 

This result is such a surprise!

[Inn Between]

Gotta love Thai politics. 

 

The Junta leader puts himself in power for 5 years, promising an election year after year, and he now will be in power for another 4 or 5 years while he promises to get the results of this one sorted out. 

 

[holy cow cm]

Unbelievable the Constitution Court doesn’t want to supersede over doing the right thing over a constitutional issue. 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, holy cow cm said:

Unbelievable the Constitution Court doesn’t want to supersede over doing the right thing over a constitutional issue. 

Thai justice - the best money can buy.

 

[choff56]

Dictatorship is coming, dictatorship is coming. Are there any Patriots out there?

[Eligius]

35 minutes ago, choff56 said:

Dictatorship is coming, dictatorship is coming. Are there any Patriots out there?

I would question your choice of tense here (above)!

[greeneking]

3 hours ago, choff56 said:

Dictatorship is coming, dictatorship is coming. Are there any Patriots out there?

Surrender, submit, conform.

Yellow shirts here, haircuts there, blue scarves are the best!

And very, very rich people need our love and support.

Emperor's New Clothes in every classroom anyone?

Edited April 26, 2019 by greeneking
better wording

[gunderhill]

2 hours ago, greeneking said:

Emperor's New Clothes in every classroom anyone?

Been that way for a very long long  time.It's really sad.

[nickstav]

Peace and ORDER!

[YetAnother]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

who suspected the vote had not been conducted in good faith.

this is thailand, lucky to find anything remotely smelling of 'good faith'; to expect it is quite the stretch

[Thailand]

Simply means the EC have got it sorted. Amazing the speed at which the independent general ombudsman came to his conclusion, so much quicker than the independent EC with the final final election results.

[chainarong]

9 hours ago, choff56 said:

Dictatorship is coming, dictatorship is coming. Are there any Patriots out there?

Thailand has never been far removed  from a dictatorship not while the Generals remain heads of departments.

[d2b2]

It could be imagined that the EC and Ombudsman are in the pocket of the Junta that placed them in their positions... I know it stretches the imagination... But it is a perception, if not reality problem.  (Sarcasim may be intentional)

[bristolgeoff]

If the results and election is cancelled makes Thais look as bad as the UK over us leaving the eu

[geoffbezoz]

Maybe his new S-Class has just been given to him ?

[bluesea]

WATCH OUT THIS GUY IS GOING TO GET A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN THE NEXT ELECTION, THANKS TO THE E.C & OMBUDSMAN  NOW THEY HAVE DOTTED THE I's AND CROSSED THE T's FOR HIM.

 

Thanathorn had argued previously that he had transferred the shares to his mother before joining politics. But if the EC proves otherwise, the political superstar whose party had won over six million votes, could be disqualified from having a seat in the Lower House.

 

 

[Eric Loh]

Take a bow Ombudsman together with the EC, NACC and CDC for consistently not disappointing us with your idiosyncratic bending backwards for the junta. Medals are awaiting for your loyalty.    

[crazykopite]

Have the Military returned to barracks yet ?

[Bournville]

Could someone please explain to me why the Thai Baht is so strong against Western currencies? Given this election joke and given all that's happening in Thailand... Tge real estate glut and the really high cost if land.. And The bad press... Surely investors are shying away from Thailand... Thus impacting the Baht.. In a bad way. The election is just a disaster. 

[raccos21]

Only here has one hell of complicated election. Amazing Thailand!

[yellowboat]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

agreed that the calculation method for MPs could be unconstitutional

Will the constitutional court do the right thing or the expedient thing ?  The Thai government loves shortcuts. 

[malibukid]

6 hours ago, YetAnother said:

this is thailand, lucky to find anything remotely smelling of 'good faith'; to expect it is quite the stretch

i am waiting for a down turn in the Baht

[malibukid]

1 hour ago, Bournville said:

Could someone please explain to me why the Thai Baht is so strong against Western currencies? Given this election joke and given all that's happening in Thailand... Tge real estate glut and the really high cost if land.. And The bad press... Surely investors are shying away from Thailand... Thus impacting the Baht.. In a bad way. The election is just a disaster. 

the Baht is already on decline.  i am sitting comfortably on the sidelines before transfer of funds

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, choff56 said:

Dictatorship is coming, dictatorship is coming. Are there any Patriots out there?

News flash>>>>> Dictatorship has been here 5 years and is trying it's damn hardest to remain for another 5 years!

[THE REVERAND]

China will take over and Thailand will become a poor relative of Cambodia. 

[Baerboxer]

35 minutes ago, malibukid said:

the Baht is already on decline.  i am sitting comfortably on the sidelines before transfer of funds

 

Wow - declined to 32.035 at one point yesterday, weakest since January this year. Bet all the Americans are going on wild spending sprees!

 

I remember it was 35 to the USD not that long ago. 

 

But the GBP is still crap. Yesterday it was 40.78 to 1 GBP. The pound against the baht has been on a linear downward slope over the last 10 years. 

 

 

[RobMuir]

Well that’s official then. Peu Thai won the most seats so they form government.

Thats good news.