The Election Commission (EC) will meet on March 27 to consider election law violation allegations.
The claims are levied at election candidates, caretaker ministers, the chief of the Public Relations Department and a director of Channel 11.
The EC was expected to reach a decision on the issue yesterday, but decided to delay after a meeting was short of a quorum of five to make a decision on the issue. Commissioner Thirawat Thirarotewit was not present as he was abroad.
Commissioner Somchai Srisuttiyakon said that yesterday’s meeting discussed issues relating to state-run Channel 11, that invited election candidates to appear on its television shows 23 times.
The frequency with which the candidates were invited was unusual. Also, the invitations came after the royal decree for the Feb 2 election was issued on Dec 9.
EC legal advisers and specialists confirmed the candidates’ appearances on the shows and the EC’s legal office recommended that three issues be investigated, Mr Somchai said.
First, the director-general of the Public Relations Department and the director of Channel 11 may have violated EC regulations and election laws concerned with giving poll candidates unfair advantages, Mr Somchai said.
Second, three caretaker ministers — caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar are suspected of using state resources, personnel and state budgets for election campaigns. This is in violation of EC regulations, Mr Somchai said.
The three ministers were also accused of being among those who made appearances on Channel 11.
Third, the EC will examine the content of television shows in which the poll candidates appear, Mr Somchai said.
Mr Somchai said Channel 11 is a state-run mass media outlet and must avoid breaking election laws.
Mr Somchai said the EC yesterday endorsed a budget of 1.25 billion baht requested by the cabinet for operation costs at the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO).
The budget was disbursed as daily allowances of 700 baht each for more than 33,000 police officers, military personnel and officers from the Internal Security Operation Command and the Provincial Administration Department during their operations between Dec 1 last year and Jan 21.
However, the EC has not yet endorsed a budget of 2.3 billion baht for the CMPO during operations between Jan 22 and Mar 22.
The EC said a lack of clarity was behind the delay.
The EC will ask CMPO chief Chalerm Yubamrung to provide more information on March 27.