Former TRT MPs Set Up Palang Paendin Thai Party

[Jai Dee]

Former TRT MPs set up Palang Paendin Thai Party

A number of former Thai Rak Thai Party MPs registered the Palang Paendin Thai (พลังแผ่นดินไท) Party with the Election Commission yesterday.

The party is headed by former list MP Likhit Deeravegin (ลิขิต ธีรเวคิน) and has Sarit Santimatanedol (สฤต สันติเมทนีดล) and Somsal Worakahmin (สมศักดิ์ วรคามิน) as deputy leaders and Prachuab Ungpakorn (ประจวบ อึ๊งภากรณ์), secretary-general.

Mr. Likhit said his party wanted to help produce politicians who uphold to moral and ethical principles and to promote the use of wisdom in Thai society.

The party, however, will not field candidates in the general election scheduled for October 15 as it wanted to wait until another round of political reform is completed, he said.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 June 2006

[John K]

Can they do this? What is the grace period if the TRT goes down next month? How long must you be out to avoid the 5 year no politics requirement?

[penzman]

Even though they are saying, for now, that they would not run in the October 15 election, will the registration of this new party be legitimate with all the controversy with the actual Election Commissionwhen they are flushed?

[slimdog]

Can they do this? What is the grace period if the TRT goes down next month? How long must you be out to avoid the 5 year no politics requirement?

Even if the TRT party is disbanded, the 5 year rule applies (To the best of my knowledge) to individuals who have been found guilty of a crime in a court of law.

Even though they are saying, for now, that they would not run in the October 15 election, will the registration of this new party be legitimate with all the controversy with the actual Election Commissionwhen they are flushed?

Generally, if an individual is found guilty of a crime and is removed from office, then any actions that individual made prior to the removal remains valid. I would assume this would be the case if more than one individual is removed from office. A case in point was the recent court case involving the nomination for Auditor general, whilst the nomination was found to be un-constitutional, the actual appointment was found to be valid.

One question (amongst many) which would have to be clarified should the TRT party be disbanded, would be the status of all the people who are representing the TRT party at Local government level...

[John K]

It seems as this is the first time it may be a court ruling. My thought is if they were still in this year then they should suffer guilt by association. At least that will make them thing twice in the future.

Edited June 3, 2006 by john Krukowski