The Constitutional Court ruled today (Wednesday), by a majority, that Paiboon Nititawan, a former MP of the dissolved People Reform Party and currently an MP and a deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharat Party, retains his parliamentary status, on the grounds that he has not violated any provisions of the Constitution, as claimed by opposition MPs.
The court said that the dissolution of People Reform Party and the process of joining Palang Pracharat, the main government coalition party, by Paiboon was in compliance with the Constitution and that the whole process was completed within 60 days as required by law.
The court took note that the People Reform Party resolved to dissolve on August 5th, 2019 and notified the registrar of political parties. This was followed by an announcement from the Election Commission on September 6th of the dissolution, published in the Royal Gazette.
Paiboon, according to the court, joined Palang Pracharat on September 9th, 2019 and the House of Representatives was notified by its leader on October 7th of the same year.
The court also ruled that Paiboon, in his capacity as the leader of People Reform Party, was legally bound to undertake the liquidation process to legally dissolve his party.
Regarding the opposition MPs’ contention that Paiboon was not included as a party-list MP by the Palang Pracharat Party, the court ruled that this is a different issue from being a party member, as stipulated in Section 101 (10) of the Constitution.
Led by Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet, leader of Thai Liberal Party, the opposition MPs had claimed that Paiboon’s parliamentary status ended, in accordance with Sections 101 (10), 90 and 91 (5) and (7) of the Constitution.
