Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Council of State has confirmed that it is within the Election Commission's authority to disqualify Dr. Suphat Hasuwanakit from running for Member of Parliament. Despite this potential disqualification, Dr. Suphat retains the right to participate in politics. Furthermore, the caretaker government holds the power to take disciplinary action against civil servants independently, without needing approval from the Council of State.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pakorn Nilapraphan, Secretary-General of the Council of State, addressed the case involving Dr. Suphat, the former director of Sabayoi Hospital and parliamentary candidate for Songkhla Province from the People's Party. The Sub-Committee of the Ministry of Public Health recommended Dr. Suphat's dismissal from government service concerning the procurement of COVID-19 test kits. Mr. Pakorn explained that the Election Commission is responsible for deciding Dr. Suphat's eligibility based on the election laws and the Constitution.
Mr. Pakorn further clarified that should the dismissal be unrelated to corruption, Dr. Suphat might still be eligible to run, as the Constitution only mandates disqualification for those dismissed due to corruption or misconduct. However, the final decision rests with the Election Commission, which will evaluate the details of the case.
When questioned about the necessity of involving the Election Commission following the Public Health Ministry's Civil Service Commission's decision, Mr. Pakorn suggested that stakeholders approach the Election Commission for clarity. He expressed a personal opinion that the Election Commission should resolve the issue before the election to prevent voter confusion, though he acknowledged that the decision could occur either before or after the election, depending on the Commission's judgment.