The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) faces yet another legal challenge that could lead to its dissolution with activist Srisuwan Janya accusing the party of allowing Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to wield "outside influence" on it.
Mr Sriswan yesterday filed a complaint with the Election Commission. It relates to Gen Prawit's participation in a PPRP seminar involving party MPs at the 88 Garmonte Resort in Wang Nam Khieo district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday.
Gen Prawit is not a PPRP member, but allegedly told the seminar he is a party supporter and that they were "one big family". He also told the MPs to remain united and not split into factions, Mr Srisuwan said.
"Gen Prawit is not in the PPRP. That the party invited him to give the opening speech and give advice to its MPs is an act of exercising control and giving instructions over the party's operations, which clearly affects the freedom of the party and its members," Mr Srisuwan said.
This is prohibited by Section 28 of the organic law on political parties and meets a criterion for the party's dissolution under Section 92 of the same law, Mr Srisuwan said.
Section 28 prohibits political parties letting an outsider control, influence or guide activities in a way that affects the freedom of a party and its members. Section 92 provides for the dissolution of a party found to be in violation of Section 28.
Mr Srisuwan also accused Gen Prawit of violating Section 29 of the same law, which bars a non-party member from controlling, influencing or guiding any activity of a political party in the way that affects the freedom of a party and party members.
He said Section 108 of the law on political parties stipulates a prison sentence of 5-10 years and/or fine of 100,000-200,000 baht, and requires the revocation of the right to election candidacy for violators of Section 29.
Mr Srisuwan yesterday also petitioned the EC to seek an order from the Constitutional Court to dissolve the PPRP for holding the seminar at a resort accused of forest encroachment in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he was not worried about presenting the government's policy statement in parliament today.
"There are no worries. This is how politics works.
Today, the new prime minister and the new government are now in place," he said.