Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's chances of traveling abroad to talk on the "situation in Thailand" with the European Parliament depends on the Supreme Court, which will consider whether its invitation letter is credible.
The court earlier released Ms Yingluck on 30-million-baht bail in the rice-pledging case.
Ms Yingluck, former prime minister Thaksin's younger sister, cannot alone decide whether to accept the invitation letter, reportedly sent to her by European Parliament members last month. Beside the court, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) also needs to check on the purpose of the talk as debates over the letter's credibility and impact of the talk on the NCPO-run government are mounting, authorities said.
Courts of Justice spokesman Suebpong Sripongkul said yesterday if a court sets conditions on overseas travel for a person on trial, it has the final word on whether to approve a trip.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders granted bail to Ms Yingluck in May and ordered her not to leave the country without its permission. It made the order when she answered charges relating to her role in her loss-ridden rice-pledging programme.
The letter, dated Oct 7 and signed by Elmar Brok and Werner Langen, referred to Ms Yingluck as "khun", a polite Thai title used for honorifics, and asked her to "accept our invitation to an exchange of views on the situation in Thailand". This follows her legal battle in the court and the now-defunct National Reform Council's rejection of the first version of the draft charter, that has delayed the next general election by one year to 2017.
One of the co-signatories of the invitation to Ms Yingluck has confirmed the letter's authenticity. "Yes, the letter is by me and Mr Brok," said Mr Langen, MEP, in reply to an email by Asian Correspondent.
Checks by the Foreign Affairs Ministry found the letter is a "personal invitation", said the ministry's Department of Information chief Sek Wannamethee, adding the government is aware of the European Parliament's concerns expressed in the letter and will work to ease its worries.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said there have been reports about attempts to lobby the European Parliament on many issues and it is suspected the invitation to Ms Yingluck would "not be missed" by lobbyists. Deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said if Ms Yingluck seeks permission to travel abroad, the government will need to verify the letter and its source.
Former Democrat MP for Phitsanulok Warong Detkitwikrom questioned parts of the letter which he said sounded similar to the utterances of some Pheu Thai Party members.