Opponents of the Pheu Thai-led government have wasted no time in lodging a plethora of petitions against the government in an attempt to bring it down through so-called lawfare tactics.
The Election Commission (EC) and the charter court, which are being asked to decide on their fate, must strictly screen the complaints and accept only legitimate ones.
A new petition was submitted to the EC on Monday by Nopparut Worachitwutthikul, former leader of the White Pigeon group. It seeks the dissolution of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and five coalition partners for allegedly allowing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to dominate them. The five other parties are Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation (UTN), Chartthaipattana, Prachachat and Palang Prachrarath (PPRP).
Mr Nopparut said key figures from the parties attended a meeting with Thaksin at his residence on Aug 14 in a bid to nominate a new prime minister following a Constitutional Court ruling that removed Srettha Thavisin from office.
Initially, they reportedly agreed with Thaksin's first choice, Chaikasem Nitisiri, before switching to Ms Paetongtarn. Before this, there were reports that an unnamed petitioner had launched a complaint with the EC asking it to proceed with removing Paetongtarn and other Pheu Thai executives due to the alleged dominance being wielded by Thaksin.
In a petition, Ms Paetongtarn must be responsible in her capacity as the Pheu Thai leader for the appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chuenban in the former Srettha cabinet, which that resulted in Mr Srettha's downfall.
At the same time, the PPRP, upset at being booted out of the Paetongtarn cabinet, has turned itself into a staunch enemy. Paiboon Nititawan, the PPRP's secretary general, even accused Ms Paetongtarn of a lack of integrity for not keeping her promise by excluding the party from the coalition.
These activists are right in trying to keep the government in check.
However, it is a surprise that no petitioners are paying attention to Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob, whom the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) early this year recommended be subject to the impeachment process for his involvement in dropping a severe charge against a scion of the Red Bull family in relation to a notorious hit-and-run case that resulted in the death of a traffic policeman.
Over the past decade, Thai politics has stagnated despite some democratic elections as lawmakers and veteran petitioners increasingly resort to lawfare. Some are politically connected with the old establishment and bent on disbanding political parties and foes.
The EC and the Constitutional Court, as independent agencies endorsed by the former military-leaning Senate, have to carefully screen these complaints, and throw away the nonsensical ones. If not, they may be seen as being part of the political game.
Not that the petitions must cease. On the contrary, scrutiny of the government is encouraged provided there are not vested or ill interests at play.
The Paetongtarn government is not without controversy, particularly its "family cabinet" image, and any petitioner has the right to lodge a complaint.
But nitpicking, as well as incessant and irrational complaints or overuse of "ethical accountability" are unnecessary. Independent agencies must adhere to principles and avoid descending into this power game.