Electoral Commission Claims Deputy Pms Scalp

[george]

Electoral Commission claims Deputy PMs scalp

By John Le Fevre

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- In a surprise announcement yesterday, deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban announced his resignation as a member of parliament in the wake of Thursday’s ruling by the Election Commission (EC) that he and 12 other Democrat MPs had breached the constitution.

Mr Suthep, a list MP, said he submitted his resignation to House Speaker Chai Chidchob on Friday afternoon and that he had made the decision to resign without consulting Democrat Party executives or leader Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Suthep said he felt the ECs ruling was unjustified and never thought his possession of IRPC shares, which he said he purchased prior to 2007 and had since sold, was against the constitution.

Mr Suthep said he had to accept the ECs ruling because, as deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, he did not have time to the fight the case in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Despite resigning his parliamentary seat, Suthep said he will remain a deputy prime minister and encouraged his 12 colleagues to fight the case in court.

Suthep’s resignation comes despite an earlier decision by Prime Minister Abhisit that the 13 Democrat MPs did not have to resign as they had not had the charges against them heard by the Supreme Court.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-07-18

[Ferwert]

Electoral Commission claims Deputy PMs scalp

By John Le Fevre

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- In a surprise announcement yesterday, deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban announced his resignation as a member of parliament in the wake of Thursday's ruling by the Election Commission (EC) that he and 12 other Democrat MPs had breached the constitution.

Mr Suthep, a list MP, said he submitted his resignation to House Speaker Chai Chidchob on Friday afternoon and that he had made the decision to resign without consulting Democrat Party executives or leader Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Suthep said he felt the ECs ruling was unjustified and never thought his possession of IRPC shares, which he said he purchased prior to 2007 and had since sold, was against the constitution.

Mr Suthep said he had to accept the ECs ruling because, as deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, he did not have time to the fight the case in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Despite resigning his parliamentary seat, Suthep said he will remain a deputy prime minister and encouraged his 12 colleagues to fight the case in court.

Suthep's resignation comes despite an earlier decision by Prime Minister Abhisit that the 13 Democrat MPs did not have to resign as they had not had the charges against them heard by the Supreme Court.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-07-18

Of course he took this action without consulting Abhisit......If there is any consulting to be done, it would be Abhisit doing the consulting with him. Everyone is aware of who the real PM is. An interesting case of where a deputy Prime Minister can serve in that function without representational and electoral legitimacy. Another indication of the low value placed on voters and electoral authority. Makes one realize it is actually a very small step for Thailand, to eliminate authorities normall conferred by the electorate. In mature Democracies, resigning from the MP position which has an electoral basis of authority, would automatically forfeit all other governance authority and legitimacy. In Suthep's case however, whether he has electoral based legitimacy is of no consequence. Another example of the low opinion of an electorate.

[baht&sold]

Breakingnews

Witthaya: Puea Thai MPs won’t quit

The MPs of Puea Thai party will not quit their seats even if the Election Commission would rule that they were guilty of holding shares of companies prohibited by the charter, the chairman of opposition whips Witthaya Buranasiri said on Saturday morning.

Mr Witthaya insisted that the MPs will wait until the Constitution Court gives its final ruling. Altogether 23 Puea Thai MPs are at risk of being disqualified by the EC.

(full article link)

[hammered]

Breakingnews

Witthaya: Puea Thai MPs won’t quit

The MPs of Puea Thai party will not quit their seats even if the Election Commission would rule that they were guilty of holding shares of companies prohibited by the charter, the chairman of opposition whips Witthaya Buranasiri said on Saturday morning.

Mr Witthaya insisted that the MPs will wait until the Constitution Court gives its final ruling. Altogether 23 Puea Thai MPs are at risk of being disqualified by the EC.

(full article link)

The most interesting comment ws Witthaya telling Suthep to "withstand the pain" and that PTP understood how it felt.

[slimdog]

Electoral Commission claims Deputy PMs scalp

By John Le Fevre

Mr Suthep, a list MP

For info:

Suthep is actually a constituent MP for Surat Thani district 1 (zone 8)

Two of the other MP's named by the Election Commission are Party list MP's

Trairong Suwankhiri

Chalermlak Kebsup

They are both party list members for zone 8, and so should the Constitutional Court agree with the Election Commission, their membership will automatically be taken by the remaining 2 Party list MP's (Democrats have already used 8 of the 10 party list candidates for this zone).

Should either or both of the remaining candidates be no longer eligible to be a member of Parliament,or should any future zone 8 List MP lose membership of parliament then their places will remain empty.