The Commission will investigate whether Pita was not suitable to register as a candidate because of his shareholding in a media company.
Thailand’s prime minister’s front-runner Pita Limjaroenrat will be scrutinized over whether he was qualified to run in last month’s election, a senior official said, in another setback as he battles for support for his premiership.
Pita, the 42-year-old leader of the progressive Move Forward Party whose election victory has stunned Thailand’s military-backed establishment, has faced multiple complaints from rivals, three of which were rejected by the poll for late filing , while four others opposed the party. have been thrown out.
But Pita is by no means free as Thailand’s Election Commission investigates whether he was knowingly unfit to register as a parliamentary candidate because of his ownership of shares in a media company, which is prohibited by election rules.
Pita says he inherited the shares in the ITV television station, which has not broadcast since 2007, from his father. He says shares in the company, ITV, have since been transferred.
The candidate denies all allegations and the party says it is not concerned about the allegations.
He risks disqualification, up to 10 years in prison and 20 years banned from politics if caught offence.
“There is sufficient information and evidence to warrant further investigation into whether Mr. Pita is qualified to run in the election,” Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong told AFP news agency.
“The Election Commission has set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate further.”
The opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai slammed conservative opponents linked to the military in a resounding repudiation of nearly nine years of government led or supported by the military since the 2014 coup.
They have formed an alliance with six smaller parties, but Pita’s bid to become prime minister and form the government is expected to meet resistance in a conservative-minded senate appointed under the military. A bicameral vote on a prime minister is expected in August, with weeks of uncertainty ahead.
Move Forward’s anti-establishment agenda has put the party at odds with some influential conservative business interests and institutions.
The party gained huge support among youth and in the capital Bangkok with a platform of institutional change that included reducing the political role of the military, overturning monopolies and revising a controversial law against insulting the monarchy.
Asked about the challenges against Move Forward, Secretary General Chaitawat Tulahon said on Monday that the voice of the people will be protected.
“The Election Commission may take action against Pita in the future,” he said at a press conference.
“The party is convinced that the allegations lack sufficient evidence.”