Pheu Thai’s top party-list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra, the PM-in-waiting, and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva are expected to be endorsed as MPs today, Election Commission member Somchai Juengprasert said yesterday.
The Election Commission is scheduled to announce a second batch of endorsed MPs today. However, Somchai, who is in charge of election investigations, said it was not certain yet if all other winning candidates would be endorsed.
Somchai said the EC could endorse all poll winners first as MPs and disqualify them later if concrete evidence of legal violations is found. However, many people opposed that, so the decision would also be up to the four other EC members.
An EC source, who asked not to be named, said the commission was ready to issue three more “yellow cards” and order new elections in Sukhothai, Udon Thani and Ayutthaya.
Last week, the EC endorsed 358 MPs out of the 500 House seats. It also ordered a new election for Nong Khai’s constituency 2, where Pheu Thai candidate Somkid Banthaisong got the most votes.
Yingluck’s victory has been opposed because of the alleged involvement of banned politicians – such as her brother Thaksin – in her election campaign.
Abhisit, meanwhile, faced claims of alleged abuse of power – that he indirectly bought votes because the Commerce Ministry held a trade fair on the day of advance voting. At least 475 MPs are needed for a quorum so that Parliament can convene for a first time.
Full Article: Yingluck, Abhisit ‘to get EC nod’.