The Election Commission (EC) has not yet finalised its decision over whether the Thai Raksa Chart (TRC) Party will be dissolved for allegedly drawing the monarchy into politics.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, the EC said it was still considering the issue and would hold a media briefing to announce the decision later.
Election Commissioner Ittiporn Boonpracong said the discussions will continue today.
The statement was in response to media reports yesterday that the EC had voted to ask the Constitutional Court to disband the party for committing an act deemed hostile to the constitutional monarchy.
It was said to be in violation of the 2017 Political Parties Act by having nominated Princess Ubolratana as its candidate for prime minister.
Staff from the court told reporters the EC had not yet sent its decision to the court.
TRC spokesman Pongkasem Sattayaprasert said that a legal team representing the party would today submit a letter to the EC asking to explain itself before the EC decides whether to recommend it be dissolved.
If the EC decides to disband the party and the court agrees, the party’s 13 executives would be barred from politics — voting and running for elections — either for 10 years or for life.
Although the punishment would not apply to party candidates who are not executives, the party’s dissolution before March 24 would mean that none of its candidates would be able to run in the poll. The election law requires that a candidate must belong to a party for at least 90 days before the election, leaving them with no time to switch.
If the court dissolves the party after the election, its MPs would have 30 days to apply to new parties.
The TRC, seen as a spin-off of the Pheu Thai Party, itself a reincarnation of parties founded and led by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, caused a political earthquake last Friday when it nominated Princess Ubolratana, the elder sister of His Majesty the King, as its sole candidate for prime minister after the election.
The political gambit screeched to a halt that same night, however, when an announcement by the King was broadcast on national television. His Majesty said that despite relinquishing her royal titles in 1972, the princess is still a member of the royal family by tradition and is not allowed to take any political position.
TRC executives gathered at the party’s headquarters yesterday, expressed their loyalty to the royal institution and vowed to resume campaigning as soon as possible.
The executives, including party leader Preechapol Pongpanich, arrived in the same vehicle at the TRC head office in Laksi district about 1.10pm.
It was Mr Preechapol’s first public appearance since the party registered the princess as its candidate with the EC. The royal announcement led to her being disqualified by the commission.
Upon arriving, Mr Preechapol made a high wai, showing deep respect. He affirmed that his party had accepted the royal command and was loyal to His Majesty and all members of the royal family.
“I would like to say that all of us acted with sincerity and the good intention of seeing the nation move in a good direction for the future good of the people,” Mr Preechapol told reporters.
“We thought it was a way out for the nation, but when there is a royal command, all of us must humbly accept it because His Majesty the King and the royal institution are above us.”
He said his party had already announced its compliance with the decision of the EC.
He called a meeting of party executives early yesterday to discuss the election campaign. He said the party would resume electioneering soon.
Mr Preechapol said he was not concerned about rumours the party might be dissolved. It followed the law and was happy to cooperate with any investigation, he added.
Chaturon Chaisang, chairman of TRC’s strategic panel, posted on Facebook he would be the last man standing if the party were dissolved.
Mr Chaturon and Pichai Naripthaphan, a member of the party’s economic team, used Twitter and Facebook to explain they were not present at “the Feb 8 incident” — when the party announced its nomination of the princess.
