Representatives of two organisations on Thursday filed separate petitions with the Election Commission accusing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of violating the constitution and election law by making a television address on the government’s rice-pledging scheme on Feb 18. The first petition was filed by Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Constitution Protection Association. The petition stated that Ms Yingluck’s speech broadcast by Television Pool of Thailand on Feb 18 was intended to promote the government and Pheu Thai Party rice-pledging programme. Since Ms Yingluck is the caretaker prime minister, her television address had violated Section 181 of the constitution because she, as a state official, is required to be neutral, it said.
The petition also said Ms Yingluck had breached Section 60 of an organic law regarding use of state media for election campaigning and also violated Sections 53 and 57 of the law on the election of MPs and senators by promising to give property or other interests to solicit votes.
Mr Srisuwan said the prime minister’s use of state media while an election is still underway and incomplete was unlawful and her address was propaganda for the Pheu Thai Party.
Full Article: PM’s speech on rice scheme breach of election law, petitioners tell EC | Bangkok Post: breakingnews.