POLITICS / POLL FRAUD CASES TO BE FINALISED BY JAN 15
EC set to endorse election of over 100 MPs
The Election Commission is expected to endorse the first batch of between 100 and 200 winning candidates today, an election commissioner said yesterday. The EC will complete its investigations into all poll fraud cases by Jan 15 to enable the new House of Representatives to convene its first meeting, commissioner Sodsri Satayatham said.
Between 100 and 200 winning candidates would be endorsed today, she added.
At least 95% of a total of 480 MPs _ 456 members _ is needed to convene the first meeting of the House of Representatives.
The EC yesterday looked into investigation reports on poll winners suspected of cheating, which were submitted by a team headed by Pol Maj-Gen Chaiya Siriamphankul, deputy chief of the Special Branch Police.
Mrs Sodsri shrugged off the People Power party's call for Pol Maj-Gen Chaiya to be replaced as head of the inquiry team to ensure the transparency of its investigations.
The party's call came after the EC disqualified its three winning candidates in Buri Ram for vote-buying in the run-up to the Dec 23 general election.
She said Pol Maj-Gen Chaiya was not likely to be removed as there was no formal complaint lodged against him.
Commissioner Prapan Naikowit said the EC would ask the police to beef up security for provincial election panels and the EC headquarters.
People who disagreed with the EC's decision to disqualify the PPP candidates have threatened to stage protests.
Commissioner Somchai Juengprasert, who oversees the EC's investigations, said yesterday he would continue to carry out his duties ''for the time being''.
Amid rumours that a rift has emerged at the EC, Mr Somchai indicated on Tuesday that he wanted to leave the poll agency.
Meanwhile, the EC has instructed poll officials to further investigate a complaint that Suphan Buri provincial commissioners acted in favour of Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa and his team in constituency 1.
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