The People Power Party (PPP) believed the issuance of red cards to its winning candidates in Buri Ram by the Election Commission (EC) was unfair but it was confident it could go ahead as planned to form a coalition government, according to PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee.
The three winners from Buri Ram's Constituency 1 - Pornchai Srisuthiyothin, Rungroj Thongsri and Prakit Poldej - were given red cards by the EC, banning them from political activities for one year and subjecting them to payment of the expenses for a by-election set for January 13.
The three PPP candidates reiterated their innocence, saying they were puzzled by the issuance to them of red cards by the EC.
Mr. Surapong said he viewed the EC was using a double standard in its investigation of the election irregularities; on the one hand it had its own investigation arm, while on the other hand a special sub-committee was used which would send the result directly to the EC.
The PPP secretary general said he was unsure of the fairness of the investigation by the special sub-committee.
The three candidates should face a yellow card as the maximum penalty, Mr. Surapong said, adding the PPP’s legal unit was gathering information to appeal the EC's move.
An election winner issued a red card is prohibited from re-contesting in a new election, while those receiving a yellow card are allowed to re-run.
The Council of State, the government's legal advisory body, must review the disqualifications before they became official. That review was considered a formality and was not expected to change the outcome of the EC’s decision.
Mr. Surapong added he believed there was a ‘movement’ trying to obstruct the PPP from forming a government, as there was a rumour over 60 winning PPP candidates would be given a red card.
He was confident the issuing of yellow cards to winning PPP candidates would not affect the set up of a PPP-led coalition government.
The red cards could reduce the number of seats won by the PPP and make it more difficult for the party to form a coalition government.
Before the red card issuance, the PPP captured 233 of 480 seats in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came in second with 165 seats and Chart Thai Party third with 37, while Puea Pandin won 24, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana 9, Matchimatippataya 7 and Pracharaj 5.
The PPP secretary general said he still had good faith in the EC and wanted to see EC members do their job to their best ability.(TNA)
09:34 Dec 31, 2007
สมัครสมาชิก:
ส่งความคิดเห็น (Atom)
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น