Senators 'don't have authority to target EC'
Senators, from left, Adul Wanchaithanawong, Prakiat Nasimma, and Nikhom Chaokittisophon at Parliament yesterday, when they urged Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua not to forward a petition by 35 colleagues to the Constitution Court.
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Three caretaker senators yesterday asked Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua to quash a petition filed by 35 Upper House colleagues with the Constitution Court seeking to disqualify the three remaining election commissioners
"Those senators have no authority [to launch a petition] because their six-year term expired on March 21," said Prakiat Nasimma, one of the three senators who petitioned Suchon. The other two are Nikhom Chaokittisophon and Adul Wanchaithanawong.
Caretaker senators are only empowered to appoint members of independent agencies and impeach political officeholders, Prakiat said.
In launching the petition, the 35 senators had therefore exceeded their authority under the Constitution, he said. The 35 senators on Thursday asked Suchon to seek a ruling from the court to disqualify the three remaining EC members. The group was led by Somkid Srisangkhom, Sak Korsaengruang, Panya Yuprasert and Karun Sai-ngam.
They said the three commissioners should be disqualified because they had committed malfeasance in setting the April 2 election date and the configuration of polling booths. They also accused the EC of nonfeasance for failing to take action against Thai Rak Thai for allegedly hiring small parties to contest the April poll. They allege the EC lacks neutrality.
Prakiat said he did not mean to defend the three controversial EC members, who have been pressured to quit. He only wanted to protect the Constitution.
Parliament secretary-general Pithoon Poomhiran, meanwhile, said he had passed the 35 senators' petition, plus that of Prakiat, to Suchon for consideration.
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