The Election Commission (EC) yesterday dismissed a case seeking to dissolve the Pheu Thai Party in connection with the declaration of the emergency decree by the former Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Former Democrat MP Wirat Kalayasiri and former senator Paiboon Nititawan filed the case against 36 people including Ms Yingluck, former members of the caretaker cabinet and former MPs of the then ruling Pheu Thai Party.
Mr Paiboon and Mr Wirat accused them of violating the constitution by declaring the state of emergency and issuing related announcements under the emergency decree for no good reason.
They were also accused of setting up the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) and appointing officials to work at the CMPO and spending budgets without the prior approval from the EC.
EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said an EC inquiry panel had looked into the accusations.
The petitioners also asked the EC to consider whether Pheu Thai would benefit from the declaration of the emergency decree and whether the decree and the decision to create the CMPO should lead to the disqualification of the former cabinet ministers and them being stripped of their political rights.
The petitioners feared the decree might have helped Pheu Thai muzzle its opponents ahead of an election. This provided sufficient grounds for dissolving the party, they said.
However, Mr Puchong said the inquiry panel concluded the CMPO was authorised to issue announcements under the emergency decree, which gives the executive branch such powers.