Way cleared for Pita’s election as PM but seeds sown for political conflict with criminal probe

[webfact]

The Secretary-general of the Election Commission, Mr Sawaeng Boonme, announced an investigation by its Office into Mr Pita Limjaroenrat’s shareholding in mass media firm iTV after the body rejected three complaints on the issue. An investigation will determine if Mr Pita committed a criminal offence under the 2018 law governing elections to the House of Representatives. If referred to the Constitutional Court, it could see the potential next prime minister facing up to twenty years imprisonment if found guilty. However, at least one senior analyst questions the basis for any wrongdoing by Mr Pita under Thailand’s civil law and based on case precedent.

Leading legal expert at Thammasat University rubbishes the case against the Prime Minister-elect Pita Limjaroenrat based on case law precedent and Thailand’s civil code relating to property and wills. The probe, ordered on Friday, will prolong the ongoing political uncertainty cased by May’s shock election result. 

The impending political instability that threatens Thailand in August may have been eased by a decision on Friday by the Election Commission to dismiss three complaints before it against Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward Party leader and prospective Prime Minister-elect based on the May 14th General Election result but it has set the scene for a renewed national conflict in the near term for the government that may emerge in August between entrenched establishment and pro-democratic forces in Thailand.

 

A decision to investigate the main candidate for Prime Minister in August following the May 14th General Election, Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, by the Election Commission will have implications for what appears to be a showdown between the forces of conservatism in Thailand and nearly 75% of voters who plumped for the eight party coalition that is supporting his bid to be elected to the post in parliament.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/06/11/way-cleared-for-move-forward-pita-election-as-pm-seeds-political-instability/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-06-12

 

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[Enoon]

"a renewed national conflict in the near term for the government that may emerge in August between entrenched establishment and pro-democratic forces in Thailand."

 

Guaranteed.

 

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

If referred to the Constitutional Court, it could see the potential next prime minister facing up to twenty years imprisonment if found guilty.

Pita will most likely become PM . AFTER this , the Constitutional court will decide if he violated the law by posing his candidature as PM because of the shares .

But , before the court can decide , he has to become PM ...

Thee political fate of the country will depend on this decision .

Who are the judges ?

[hotchilli]

10 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Thee political fate of the country will depend on this decision .

Who are the judges ?

Bought and paid for morons who only have loyalty to the masters not the people.

 

[h90]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Bought and paid for morons who only have loyalty to the masters not the people.

 

It is the law judges should follow...not the will of the people and I hope you don't suggest they are corrupt and paid....

[nobodysfriend]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Bought and paid for morons who only have loyalty to the masters not the people.

 

Probably , all connected by their own filth . ( moral corruption or defilement , something that tends to corrupt or defile Synonyms )

[bignok]

Politics - Dirty game filled with scum

 

[bradiston]

Good article

[bamnutsak]

Relevant history...

 

2001

January 6 - Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party wins in general election

January 18 - Constitutional Court agrees to put Thaksin, who is set to become prime minister, on trial for allegedly concealing assets when he was in government in 1997. The move comes a month after his indictment by the National Countercorruption Commission, an independent body. Thaksin denied any wrongdoing in the case.

February 9 - King Bhumibol Adulyadej appoints Thaksin prime minister. He would become the country's first prime minister to serve a full-term in office.

August 3 -- In an 8-7 decision, the Constitutional Court acquits Thaksin of concealing assets, citing insufficient evidence. He avoids a ban from politics.

 

 

 

The 8-7 vote was due, in part, to the signifanct electoral mandate Thaksin/TRT received (248 of 500 seats). Of course Thaksin was eventually "dealt with".