Bangkok: Parit Wacharasindhu has raised concerns over the delay by the Election Commission (EC) in indicting 1,767 Senate candidates for lacking necessary qualifications, questioning the two-year timeframe taken for such action.
According to Thai News Agency, Parit expressed his dissatisfaction with the EC and urged for a swift resolution in the significant case involving the indictment of 229 individuals. He specifically criticized Supachai for allegedly using false statements in Parliament regarding document presentations. Parit was perplexed by claims that he had shown documents, as he only discussed the emergency decree for borrowing money in recent parliamentary sessions.
As a list-based Member of Parliament from the People's Party, Parit addressed an interpellation to Mr. Napinthon Srisarppang, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office. Parit alleged that Mr. Napinthon, during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Commerce, had convened meetings with Senate candidates before the 2024 elections and requested advance resignation letters. Parit sought explanations on this matter but was disheartened by the absence of a direct response from Mr. Napinthon. He emphasized that the EC should have charged all 229 accused individuals if it were acting impartially, a figure derived from the findings of the 26th Central Investigation and Inquiry Subcommittee, which conducted extensive interviews with 700 witnesses.
Addressing the EC's decision to file charges against Senate candidates with disqualifications or prohibited characteristics, Parit questioned if this was merely a reaction to public pressure. He highlighted the expectation for the EC to handle cases expeditiously and fairly. He pointed out that certain disqualifications, such as familial relationships, could have been identified much earlier, ideally at the registration stage, instead of taking over two years to address.
Parit also reacted to the press conference by Mr. Supachai Jaisamut and Mr. Pisit Apiwatnapong, who questioned the non-utilization of the 36th Committee's opinion. Parit was surprised by Supachai's claims that he had presented certain documents, clarifying that he had not shown any documents or posted related content on social media. His parliamentary focus, he reiterated, was on the Emergency Decree on borrowing, not on the Senate election fraud.
When questioned about the potential impact of releasing information sooner, Parit explained that the current period coincides with the EC's 90-day window to decide on the case. This timeframe is crucial as the EC must determine whether to proceed with indictments or dismissals. With the deadline approaching in early September, Parit expects a decision within the next couple of weeks.
Parit stressed that the EC's conclusion is critical. He argued that if the EC dismisses all charges, it would contradict public evidence. Conversely, if only a small number of individuals are indicted, it raises questions about the integrity of the election process. He insisted that if there was indeed fraud, it would involve more than just a few individuals, challenging the EC to act accordingly.