Constitutional Court to Rule on Key Political Cases by September

[webfact]

 

The Constitutional Court is expected to wrap up two critical cases, involving the Move Forward Party (MFP) and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, by September.

 

Court president Nakharin Mektrairat revealed the court's timeline as it prepares to review evidence and potentially initiate inquiries into both matters.

 

Key aspects of the cases:

 

1. **Move Forward Party (MFP)**:

   - The MFP is fighting a case that could lead to its dissolution. The Election Commission (EC) filed this case in March following a January 31 court ruling that framed the MFP’s attempts to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code as undermining the constitutional monarchy.

   - The EC argues that under Section 92 of the law on political parties, any party threatening the constitutional monarchy can be dissolved. Consequently, the EC seeks to ban the MFP's executives from future elections, and bar them from holding executive positions in any new party for ten years.

 

2. **Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin**:

   - Another case scrutinises PM Srettha’s appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. A group of 40 senators filed a petition to remove Srettha, claiming that Pichit was unfit due to his past jail time for contempt of court in a 2008 land case involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

   - Although the court dismissed the charges against Pichit after he stepped down, it decided to proceed with the case against Srettha, focusing on possible ethical violations.

 

The court will discuss evidence during its upcoming Wednesday session. Court president Nakharin stressed that every judge holds the freedom to decide independently.

 

Context:

- Early last month, MFP chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat publicly asserted that the Constitutional Court lacked the authority to dissolve the party, stirring considerable debate.

- The court had previously cautioned all parties to remain circumspect in their public comments, as ongoing expressions of opinion could mislead the public and influence the trial’s outcome.

 

Mr Nakharin also mentioned that the court will review two other cases, including a legal challenge concerning the 2001 Thai-Cambodian memorandum on Gulf of Thailand joint development, filed by Palang Pracharath Party deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan.

 

Transparency limits, especially in sensitive or national security cases, could affect judicial disclosures, Mr Nakharin pointed out in a separate forum.

 

By resolving these pivotal cases by September, the Constitutional Court aims to clarify significant uncertainties in the nation’s political landscape.

 

TOP: File photo cortesy: TLHF

 

-- 2024-07-02

 

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[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Constitutional Court is expected to wrap up two critical cases, involving the Move Forward Party (MFP) and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, by September.

Which year ??? .....................LOL

[Gottfrid]

September??? Ok, that´s unusually quick.

[ikke1959]

Of course with the upcoming holidays they don't want any trouble

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

September??? Ok, that´s unusually quick.

Prepaid result?

[kingstonkid]

Good time of year weather is great for protests.

 

If both go through expect an election in either December or the new year