Future Forward Party leader (FFP) Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has voiced disagreement with the Constitutional Court's decision to accept his suspension as an MP after it accepted a case in which he is accused of violating media shareholding rules.
Mr Thanathorn also questioned if the Election Commission (EC)'s request for the court's ruling against him was rushed and whether the case was politically motivated.
Speaking yesterday at the party's headquarters, Mr Thanathorn said: "I call on the public to examine the resolution by the EC and the Constitutional Court, together with me, to decide whether I received justice or not.
"Was there any attempt to expedite this case?"
The FFP leader argued the EC's inquiry panel had not yet completed its work as it was still summoning witnesses for questioning.
"Why did the EC rush to send the case to the court without waiting for its inquiry panel to complete its work first?'' Mr Thanathorn asked.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Thanathorn wrote on Facebook that the poll agency had forwarded the case to the court on May 16 even though the EC's inquiry panel was still at work.
After the commission forwarded the matter to the court, the inquiry panel summoned witnesses for questions, he wrote.
The court unanimously voted 9-0 to accept the case against him yesterday. It also voted 8-1 to suspend him from his MP duty. The court wrote: "According to the documents supplied by the petitioner [EC], over the past 10 years, every time there was a change in shareholders, the company would submit a shareholder's list with the date of the shareholders' meeting to the registrar of Bangkok companies without delay," the court said.
"But this did not happen in this case and the date of the shareholders' meeting was not specified when there was the change in the shareholders," the court added, referring to V-Luck Media Co Ltd, a company formerly owned by Mr Thanathorn.
"Besides, if the accused performs his duty as an MP, it could lead to legal issues and challenges, creating obstacles during the assembly of the House of Representatives," it said.
Despite the decision, Mr Thanathorn can still attend today's ceremonial opening of parliament at the Foreign Ministry's Vithes Samosorn Hall which will be presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen, according to Sorasak Pienvej, secretary-general of the House of Representatives.
The FFP leader can also attend tomorrow's first session of the House of Representatives, Mr Sorasak said. Mr Thanathorn will be suspended from his MP duty as ordered by the court after he is sworn in as an MP during the House session tomorrow, Mr Sorasak said.
The constitution stipulates that all elected MPs must take an oath at a swearing-in ceremony during the House's inaugural session before they can assume their duties, Mr Sorasak said.
However, Mr Thanathorn maintains he still has the status of an MP and a PM candidate.
"I will gather support from other parties to form a coalition government and nominate myself," he said. "I am barred from working in the House, but I will work with 6.3 million voters out there," Mr Thanathorn added.
On May 16, the poll agency forwarded the case to the court asking it to look at whether Mr Thanathorn is qualified to be an MP since he was alleged to hold shares in a media company when he applied to become an MP, a prohibition under Section 98 (3) of the constitution, which bars the owners or shareholders of media and/or publishing firms from applying to become MPs.
The EC also asked the court to suspend him from duty until the court delivers a ruling.