EC examines allegations of Thaksin’s influence on Pheu Thai, partners

The Election Commission Office has merged four complaints against Pheu Thai and its coalition partners into one case and has started investigating, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said on Thursday.

Ittiporn said the investigation would take about 30 days and could be extended by another 30 days if necessary.

Four persons have filed complaints with the EC Office, alleging that the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its six coalition partners have allowed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to dominate their policies and affairs in violation of the charter and the Political Parties Act.

The four complainants include Warong Dechgivigrom, chair of the Thai Phakdee Party, and two serial petitioners –Ruangkrai Leekitwattana and Nopparut Worachitwutthikul. The fourth complainant is anonymous.

The petitioners claim that Pheu Thai and its partners allowed Thaksin to dominate the formation of the coalition as negotiations were made at Thaksin’s home after Srettha Thavisin was removed as prime minister by the Constitutional Court in August.

Ittiporn explained the progress of the complaints handling, saying EC Office secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee, who is the political party registrar, has given the complaints a preliminary review and decided that they had grounds for investigation.

Ittiporn said Sawaeng had sent the four complaints to the EC fact-finding committee to investigate in 30 days.

The EC chair said if Sawaeng considers the investigation results of the fact-finding panel prove that there has been an alleged wrongdoing, he will pass the case on to the full EC to make a decision on whether to ask the Constitutional Court to dissolve the seven parties.

Ittiporn said some complainants have already testified to the EC’s fact-finding panel this week, but added that the investigation will take a while because the EC will have to listen to the arguments of both sides.