Parties' dissolution looms

The EC has yet to review the panel's report.

In case of agreement, it would proceed to petition the Constitution Court to rule wheter to disband the two coalition parties, seen as a litmus test for a similar fate faced by the People Power Party.

Earlier EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond on Wednesday said his legal advisers had sufficiently clarified pertinent provisions to enable him to form a judgement on party dissolution involving Chart Thai and Matichima Thipataya parties.

The decision came after executives of both were "red-carded" for serious electoral offences in the December 23 general election.

Both parties are facing possible dissolution after Chart Thai deputy-secretary general Monthien Songpracha and Matchima Thipataya deputy leader Sunthorn Vilawan were given "red cards" before House seats were endorsed.

Earlier EC said witnesses from Matchima Thipataya denied the party was involved in the alleged fraud by Sunthorn. They said all members had been warned not to commit electoral offences.

EC confirmed the decision on the two parties would not be used as a norm for the possible dissolution of the People Power Party (PPP) of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in light of the move to disqualify PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat.