• 
• 

Published on January 18, 2008

The three endorsed MPs were Niyom Vechkama and Taweewat Ritruechai of Sakon Nakhon and Niramit Sujaree of Roi Et.

At this juncture, the EC has endorsed 434 House seats and is obliged to endorse a minimum of 22 more in order to achieve the 95-per-cent requirement - accounting for 456 out of 480 seats - for the opening of Parliament on Monday, its secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said.

The agency will consider the endorsement of the remaining MPs-elect today as it was waiting for the results of the new round of elections in Chaiyaphum and Buri Ram yesterday, as well as the decision of the Council of State on the EC's ruling to disqualify winning candidates Monthien and Nathana Songpracha in Chai Nat and Prasop Busarakham in Udon Thani, he said.

The EC is also waiting for the ruling of the Supreme Court's Election Division on the case Democrat candidate Chaiwat Sinsuwong filed against both advance balloting and the People Power Party. The case is very important and will affect the EC's work, Suthiphon said.

EC member Sumeth Upanisakorn said the debate had been lengthy and inconclusive on whether to endorse just 456 seats or all 480.

"In acting either way, the EC is equally prone to be targeted for litigation by rival camps," he said, adding that the five EC members needed a night to carefully consider their options and consequences.

Attayuth Butrsripoom

The Nation