The senate yesterday voted 98-1 to accept for examination additional evidence submitted by Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban to fight the National Anti-Corruption Corruption's petition for him to be removed retroactively as deputy prime minister.
Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith greets Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as he arrives at the DSI’s office on Chaeng Watthana Road yesterday to testify about the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt demonstrators. THITI WANNAMONTHA
The NACC found Mr Suthep, a Democrat Party MP for Surat Thani, to have interfered in the work of the Culture Ministry while serving as deputy prime minister in the previous government.
If the senate confirms the NACC's finding, Mr Suthep would be removed retroactively as deputy prime minister and banned for five years from politics.
Although the removal of Mr Suthep from the post would only be on paper, he would, however, subsequently be disqualified as an MP because of the political ban.
A removal bid requires the support of three-fifths of the senate _ or 89 out of the current 149 senators.
The senate has scheduled Sept 18 to vote on Mr Suthep's fate.
In yesterday's meeting, Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich explained the procedures to be taken in considering the removal petition.
He asked the senators to be impartial and avoid making comments to the public while the petition is being considered.
Since Mr Suthep had submitted additional evidence in his defence, Mr Nikom asked the meeting to vote whether to accept it.
The evidence is a Constitution Court order dismissing a similar petition against Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, who was accused of appointing Pheu Thai MPs to work at the Flood Relief Operation Centre in a manner that interfered in the work of permanent officials.
Before the vote, Mr Suthep told the senate yesterday that the evidence had never been submitted to and considered by the NACC and he asked the upper house to consider it.
Chairat Khanitbut, the NACC assistant secretary-general, said at the meeting that the NACC had no objection to the new information.
The next meeting to consider the removal petition will be on Sept 7 when Mr Suthep will be allowed to deliver a statement in his defence.
In a press interview, Mr Suthep declined to speculate about the outcome of the impeachment process or to discuss his political future.
"I'm on tour, clarifying the allegations these days. Let's not discuss my political future. I prefer one thing at a time," he said.