Abhisit Pressing Ahead With Suit Over Absentee Voting Allegation

Abhisit pressing ahead with suit over absentee voting allegation

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said his party's legal team had moved to file a suit against those who had accused him of proxy voting.

Abhisit denied the allegation and attacked the ruling Pheu Thai Party of misleading the public and causing confusion.

Abhisit said he had never had anyone vote on his behalf. He believed the allegation against him was publicised because the Pheu Thai Party wanted to deflect an accusation against some of its members of voting for absent colleagues.

He said the Opposition would explore different legal venues to oppose the ruling party's move to amend the Constitution using their majority in the House without respecting the opinion of others.

Abhisit said one of the methods to oppose the move was to check Parliament quorum. He said it was suspicious that despite the House recording full quorum, parking space in the Parliament compound was easily found.

Abhisit said the Democrat Party was also working on filing a complaint with the Constitution Court over the allegation that MPs voted for absent colleagues during the Constitution amendment meeting.

Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap denied that an MP captured in a video clip presented by Senator Rosana Tositrakul was from the ruling party.

Jirayu challenged Rosana to quit her post if the member in ques?tion was not a Pheu Thai MP.

He said the party has asked Rosana to make a statement over the allegation tomorrow but she had declined, saying she was not obliged to do so.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont has called an urgent House meeting from May 1-3 to amend Article 291 of the Constitution.

The House of Representatives has been deliberating the Constitution amendment draft for eight days but Article 291/6 has yet to be discussed.

-- The Nation 2012-04-29