Democrat Party asks Constitution Court to nullify Feb 2 election

BANGKOK, February 4 (TNA) - Thailand's Democrat Party has filed a case with the Constitution Court, seeking its ruling to nullify the February 2 general election, which it boycotted. Democrat Party Spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut announced on Tuesday that his party has already filed the case through an ombudsman, reasoning that the February 2 national poll could not happen nationwide and the Election Commission (EC) has not assured whether it can organize the next election in 28 problematic constituencies and whether it can repeat an advance voting on February 23. Chavanond told journalists his Democrat Party's petition stated that last Sunday's general election appeared to violates the 2007 Constitution for being non-democratic and being tantamount to a non-democratic effort to acquire power. Chavanond pointed out although last Sunday's election results have not been officially announced, comments of executives of the ruling Pheu Thai Party on possible election results could influence eligible voters' decisions when they exercise their right on the February 23 election. Besides, the spokesman acknowledged, his Democrat Party has asked the Constitution Court to disband the Pheu Thai Party and suspend political rights of the ruling party's executives allegedly because the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government has imposed the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations to take advantage of political competitors and many Pheu Thai executives, who are Cabinet members, have violated the election law and communication freedom. According to the spokesman, his Democrat Party will also gather the signatures of at least 20,000 people to impeach Thailand's Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet ministers allegedly for their malfeasance in election organization. The spokesman vowed that, after the 20,000 signatures are gathered, his Democrat Party will file the issue with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further action. (TNA)