Samak stunned as Yongyuth's fate hanging in the wind

The five-member EC ruled in a majority vote to petition the Supreme Court to launch a judicial review on alleged votebuying in Chiang Rai involving Yongyuth, EC secretary general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said.

Once the high court has ruled to commence trial, Yongyuth is expected to suspend his speakership though he would retain in House seat as a partylist MP from Zone 1 covering the Upper Northern Region.

His two deputies would act as interim speakers during trial.

If he was convicted in the one tier, fast track review, he would lose his seat and face a five-year ban from the electoral process.

In trying Yongyuth who is concurrently a People Power Party executive, the EC is obliged to form an investigative panel to determine whether his alleged violations were linked to the party. Should the linkage be suspected, the EC must petition the Constitution Court to rule whether the dismantle the party.

The Nation