Bangkok: "Sonthiya" has submitted a petition to the Election Commission seeking an investigation into the ethics of the Palang Pracharath Party executives over their alleged unfair support of parliamentary candidates. Sonthiya also urged the Election Commission to expedite the certification of election results and demanded decisive legal action against those responsible.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sonthiya Sawasdee officially requested the Election Commission (EC) to examine the conduct of the Palang Pracharath Party leader and executive committee members concerning their support of candidates for Member of Parliament (MP) in the recent election. He highlighted concerns that some candidates did not receive campaign funding or assistance, despite having fulfilled all necessary application requirements, including the submission of bank account details. Additionally, these candidates reportedly did not receive the 10,000 baht application fee, raising questions about discriminatory and non-transparent practices within the party.
The petition calls for the Registrar of Political Parties of the Election Commission to investigate whether the party provided financial support to specific individuals or groups during the election. It also seeks clarity on how funds received from major supporters were utilized. An audit of the party's financial records has been requested to ascertain compliance with the EC's campaign spending guidelines, which impose a limit of 1.9 million baht per candidate from the date of the royal decree dissolving parliament until election day on February 8, 2026.
Mr. Sonthiya emphasized that such discrepancies, if proven, could violate the ethical standards expected of the party leader and executive committee, who are obligated to act with honesty and fairness. He urged the Election Commission to strictly enforce the code of ethics for political party executives.
Moreover, Sonthiya plans to submit an additional request for the Election Commission to certify parliamentary election results promptly, as was done in 2023. He argues that issues such as problems with barcodes or QR codes can be addressed post-certification, within the legal timeframe, to avoid delays in government formation.
In a related matter, Mr. Sonthiya called for the decisive prosecution of those violating election laws, warning that any negligence or omission by the Election Commission could be considered an offense under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
Regarding the controversy over the election's barcode or QR code system, Mr. Sonthiya stated that it is up to the relevant court to address the issue, noting that no ruling has yet been issued on the matter.
Mr. Sonthiya concluded that the objective of his petition is to ensure fairness for candidates and maintain transparency in political party administration, in line with the legal and ethical standards established by the Election Commission.