EC gives 210 MPs the nod, but is ready to ‘card’ 30 more

Published on February 12, 2005

The Election Commission (EC) has officially endorsed 210 candidates who won majority votes in the February 6 poll.

Unofficial tallies yesterday showed that Thai Rak Thai would capture 376 of the total 500 seats, with the remaining 124 going to the Democrats (97), Chat Thai (25) and Mahachon (2).

These three parties will form the opposition, which will not have the 125 MPs needed to pass a motion to impeach a minister.

EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunprapha said yesterday that the EC endorsed 210 winning candidates after double-checking with provincial election officials to confirm that there were no electoral complaints against them.

The commission has received 297 electoral complaints and placed top priority on cases relating to the top vote winners, he said.

“There are between 30 and 40 cases that we are consider may

merit either a red or yellow card,” he said.

Yellow cards will be given to prospective MPs against whom accusations of electoral fraud are convincing but lack concrete evidence. Red cards are for those against whom accusations are backed by solid evidence.

While yellow-carded candidates can contest by-elections, those who are red-carded are barred from running in an election.

Charupat said the EC planned to complete the endorsement process for all winning candidates by February 25, even though it was likely that not all complaints would be investigated by then.

“We can disqualify wrongdoers later,” he said, adding that EC would accept electoral complaints for one year.

Meanwhile, PollWatch Foundation secretary-general Warin Tiemcharas said he believed the commission should be able to take action against the administration for abuse of government power to favour the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a lecturer at Rajabhat Institute Nakhon Ratchasima, also accused the administration of using dirty tricks.

Atthayuth Butrsripoom

The Nation

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