Thailand: Last day for EC to clear poll doubts

  • The Election Commission (EC) has been given until 24 Apr 19 to defend its handling of the 24 Mar 19 general election after a petition calling for the nullification of the poll was submitted, the Office of the Ombudsman said.
  • Raksakecha Chaechai, the Ombudsman Office’s secretary-general, said on 23 Apr 19 that the office had accepted the petition on 17 Apr 19. It was submitted by Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a former member of the now-dissolved Thai Raksa Chart Party.
  • Mr Raksakecha said the office had given the poll agency seven days to clear doubts raised by the petitioner. The deadline to explain the matter is on 24 Apr 19. Citing inconsistencies in the vote count, the controversial calculation of party-list seats and uncounted ballots from New Zealand, Mr Ruangkrai said the EC’s handling of the poll may not be constitutional.
  • He asked the Office of the Ombudsman to forward the case to the Constitutional Court for consideration, saying that if and when the EC sends its explanation to the Ombudsman’s office on 24 Apr 19, the Ombudsman will call a meeting straight away to consider whether to forward the matter to the court before the EC announces the official poll results on 9 May 19.
  • This development comes as some parties’ candidates complained of irregularities in some constituencies and alleged violation of the law on the election MPs.

External Link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1665932/last-day-for-ec-to-clear-poll-doubts

24-Apr-2019