Constitutional Court rules April 2 election unconstitutional, orders new poll

BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) - Thailand's Constitutional Court justices voted on Monday to nullify the kingdom's April 2 general election, saying it was unconstitutional and that a new poll should be held.

Court spokesman Paiboon Varahapaitoon told a media conference that the court's 14 judges voted 8 to 6 to invalidate the polls based on a complaint filed through the Office of the Ombudsman alleging that the last elections were unconstitutional.

The court also ruled 9 to 5 in favour of holding new elections.

Mr. Paiboon said the court's full verdict would be released soon with essential details for conducting
the new election.

He said the verdict has been drafted and the judges will examine it Tuesday.

The complaint questioned the legitimacy of the election on the basis that the positioning of the polling booths compromised the privacy of voters as they marked their ballots, the scheduling of a voting date less than 45 days after the Lower House dissolution, and charges that a major political party had financed less-known parties to field their candidates in many constituencies.

In addition, the complaint alleged that the Election Commission made unlawful decisions regarding the electoral process, including the endorsement of elected MPs, as the decisions were made without a quorum.

The ruling was widely anticipated following the request of His Majesty the King last month that the three top courts--the Supreme, the Supreme Administrative and the Constitutional Courts--find a solution to a months-long political stalemate.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called last month's elections three years ahead of schedule amid mass street rallies in the capital demanding his resignation.

However, the boycott of the three main opposition parties forced a second round of voting that failed to produce all 500 MPs in the Lower House to convene to parliament.

Parliament is required by law to convene within 30 days after the polling date to name the new prime minister.

(TNA) May 08 2006