The Central Administrative Court has quashed an attempt by the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart party to spare itself from possible dissolution by the Constitutional Court for its controversial nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate.
In a ruling released today, the Central Administrative Court rejected a petition, filed by legal advisor Mr. Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, which asked the court to withdraw the Election Commission’s dissolution recommendation to the Constitutional Court.
Citing Section 92 of the Political Parties Act, the Central Administrative Court reasoned that the EC could ask the Constitutional Court to disband any political party if there is credible evidence that the party has committed an act or acts deemed hostile to the democratic system.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court rejected as unnecessary the Thai Raksa Chart party’s demand for witness hearings on the party’s dissolution case and is scheduled to announce its verdict on March 7th.
If the court upholds the EC’s ruling, the Thai Raksa Chart party will be dissolved and all its constituency and party-list candidates will be disqualified from the March 24th general election. Furthermore, its 14 executive committee members will be banned from politics for 10 years or longer, depending on the severity of their violations.
