Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said a video clip of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaking on a video call to a group of Pheu Thai Party MPs cannot be used as evidence to dissolve the main opposition party.
He was speaking after Sira Jenjaka, an MP from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, said he will ask the Election Commission (EC) to consider whether the video, taken at a recent birthday party, constitutes sufficient grounds for disbandment.
Among the issues discussed by Thaksin were the seeking of a new party leader and the nomination of a candidate for prime minister in the next election.
Asked by reporters to explain the meaning of "party domination", Mr Wissanu said that previous court rulings defined it as undue influence by a person who is not a party member nor an executive nor a stakeholder over party members.
Asked if the video call by Thaksin met that definition, Mr Wissanu said this was a normal conversation in public and it should not be used as evidence for party dissolution.
Only after a party actually acts in accordance with what might appear to have been orders, could it be deemed as party domination, Mr Wissanu said.
Mr Sira, who also serves as chairman of the House committee on legal affairs, justice and human rights, said yesterday that he had received complaints about the clip and the committee and EC will invite those who appeared to discuss the matter, adding that it will be the EC which has the final say.
Mr Sira cited Section 92 of the law on political parties which prohibits political parties from allowing any person who is not a party member to dominate, influence or direct party affairs in a way that limits, directly or indirectly the freedom of the parties or party members.
"If found guilty, the party will be dissolved and executives stripped of the right to run in the election for 10 years," Mr Sira said.
Deputy Pheu Thai leader Kriang Kultinant yesterday told a television programme that he proposed Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, Thaksin's former wife, be nominated as Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate, though Thaksin responded by saying Khunying Potjaman was not keen on politics and at 65 in November may now be too old for the job.
The party the video clip was taken at was hosted for Mr Kriang at the house of former energy minister Pongsak Rattapongpaisarn.
However, Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong denied media reports which said both Khunying Potjaman and her elder brother Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong are in the frame.
Mr Prasert said the party will disclose its candidates nearer the time, saying they are new faces in the party.
He also said it would be wrong to deem the video call by Thaksin as party domination.