Bangkok: Mr. Ittiporn Boonprakong, Chairman of the Election Commission, has addressed the legal standing of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra in relation to campaign activities while providing updates on the impending by-election in Sisaket Province. He confirmed that Paethongtarn can serve as a campaign assistant despite a court order halting her duties as Prime Minister. The by-election results for Constituency 5 are anticipated to be announced by 8 p.m. tonight.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Ittiporn elaborated on the readiness of the election framework in Sisaket, highlighting the complete setup of the District Election Commission and the Election Inspector. Today marks the final day for election candidacy applications, with only two candidates officially declared. The Election Commission aims for a 65% voter turnout across approximately 200 polling stations.
In response to inquiries about the vote counting process, Mr. Ittiporn noted that geographical challenges might affect the speed of result collection. However, he reassured that the local Election Commission unit is committed to completing the count within the scheduled time frame.
When questioned about Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra's eligibility to serve as a campaign assistant following the Constitutional Court's order, Mr. Ittiporn clarified that her role does not breach any legal constraints. He stated that being a campaign assistant is permissible for individuals over 18 with voting rights, and it does not conflict with her current status.