Call for dissolution of Pheu Thai over alleged Thaksin influence

An anonymous complaint submitted last week called on the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to dissolve the Pheu Thai Party. The complaint alleges that party members have permitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a non-member, to exert undue influence over its political activities.

Channel 3 reported that the dissolution request on Monday, August 19, accused the Pheu Thai Party of seriously violating ethical standards and lacking honesty, similar to the accusations faced by former PM Srettha Thavisin. The petitioner claimed that these issues were caused by the influence of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The anonymous petitioner contended that the influence of the 75 year old former Thai Prime Minister was evident in the behaviour of the leading members of the Pheu Thai Party. They reportedly showed him great respect, accorded him significant importance, and maintained close relationships with him.

Some party members have been observed giving interviews where they stated that the party had agreed to accept Thaksin’s guidance, despite his non-membership. This, the petitioner argues, breaches Section 28 of the Constitution, which forbids a non-member from exerting such influence over a political party that compromises the independence of its members. A breach of Section 28 could lead to the dissolution of the party, as outlined in the first paragraph of Section 92 of the Constitution.

For Thaksin himself, his intervention could result in imprisonment for five to ten years, according to Section 108 of the Constitution.

The petitioner also stated that the ECT could immediately dissolve the Pheu Thai Party without further questioning or consideration due to the clear evidence of Thaksin’s interference. However, the ECT has not yet clarified the next steps for proceeding with the complaint.

Former PM Thaksin had just participated in a special talk about the Thai economy at Siam Paragon Hall on Thursday, August 22. During the talk, he mentioned the Pheu Thai Party’s main campaign policy, the digital wallet, and discussed the direction of other policies promoted by the party, such as the 20 baht flat fare per trip for electric trains.

Following a recent survey on the topic of The Role of Former PM Thaksin in PM Paetongtarn‘s Government, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), nearly 60% of respondents believed that Paetongtarn is unable to work without Thaksin’s interference.