EC moves to disqualify 13 govt MPS

The Election Commission yesterday moved to disqualify 13 Democrat Party MPs, including Deputy Premier Suthep Thaugsuban, for contravening the Constitution by holding shares in firms involved with mass media or state contracts.

Suthep is one of the most powerful Democrats in government, second only to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the party's leader.

The Constitution Court will decide whether all 13 should be stripped of their MP status.

Among the 13 MPs, 11 were elected by constituencies and the other two by proportional voting.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn said Suthep's shareholdings included those in mass-media firm True while he was an MP.

Equities are not allowed, but the EC said Suthep's possession of debentures issued by IRPC, another firm with government links, was constitutional.

The 12 other Democrat MPs disqualified by the EC represent Bangkok and provinces in the Northeast, North and South.

Suthiphon said the EC applied the same standard used when it disqualified a group of Senators on an identical charge.

Regarding the case of another former Democrat MP, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, he said the governor's wife, Sawitri Paribatra na Ayutthaya, took over ownership of stocks from her husband after he resigned as an MP to become governor, so he did not violate the charter.

The 14 other Democrat MPs facing the same charge were also found to have bought debentures, not company shares, so they did not infringe the charter's ban on equity holdings.

Earlier, an EC committee was more lenient, ruling MPs who had held disallowed shares before assuming the post of MP would not be affected.

However, the commissioners reversed the committee's interpretation and ruled against the 13 Democrats on grounds they were not supposed to own any equity stakes in mass-media companies or companies holding state concessions even before taking up their MP seat.

Media firms held by disqualified MPs include Total Access Communications, MCOT and Jasmine International.

Some MPs also hold shares in Glow Energy, which has won a state concession.

Suthep said he was not under pressure to quit as deputy premier after the EC ruling.

There would be a solution, he said, without specifying what that would be.

These cases will not affect the government's stability, Suthep added.

Trying to avoid reporters, he tripped over an electric wire as he rushed to get into his car following the EC's announcement.

Suthep earlier said he would continue in his ministerial post even if the EC ruled against his MP status.