Key election rulings due

Key election rulings due

The Supreme Court will rule shortly on whether three election-related cases merit judicial review.

Published on January 4, 2008

The court will make a key ruling on January 15 on arguments raised by a Democrat Party candidate. This case has drawn attention because it could lead to the nullification of the People Power Party's election victory.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong complained that People Power was a nominee in the December election. He contends that PPP was unqualified to contest the ballot because it was a nominee of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party and that leader Samak Sundaravej was a proxy.

He has questioned if advance voting was valid, and if the distribution of video discs to voters featuring former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was illegal.

Presiding judge Chalee Thappawimol has issued a summons for People Power to submit a defence within seven days.

He decided against an injunction to suspend advance-voting results, but said he would address the issue if he deemed it necessary to launch a judicial review.

In another case, the court will rule on January 16 on assertions by Northeast activist Thepphanom Siriwithayarak that the Election Commission mismanaged advance voting. He is seeking an annulment of the results.

In a third case, the court will rule next Friday on an argument by New Aspiration Party spokesman Sarwut Thongpen that the commission had no jurisdiction to organise advance voting.

The Nation