People Power Party faces dissolution

Apichart defended that the complaint to dissolve the PPP and the electoral complaints against Yongyuth had been filed much longer so it was justified that the EC investigated the two legal issues at the same time.

He was responpding to criticism that the EC may have adopted double standards for not takign action to dissolve Matchima Thipataya Party even though its deputy party leader Sunthorn Wilawan was disqualified on grounds of vote buying yesterday.

Apichart admitted that should Yongyuth be found to have committed wrongdoings in his capacity as deputy could trigger litigation in the Constitution Court that could end with the PPP being disbanded, he said.

The EC will hear the testimony of a final defence witness before passing judgement.

The gist of the charges concerns Yongyuth's involvement in offering monetary rewards to village headmen and kamnans in Chiang Rai to sway votes for him and his party.

Under new electoral rules, a political party is accountable for any electoral offence involving party executives