Tribunal rules suit against Democrats legitimate

BANGKOK (Nation): The Constitution Tribunal ruled yesterday that the Democrat Party had not breached the MPs and Senatorial Election Act because the act had lapsed after the coup.

Reading the legal interpretations before the verdict, Judge Somchai said the organic election had not been exempted by any coup order and so it was annulled by the coup.

However, the tribunal ruled that the suit against the Democrats was legitimate because the party was given enough time and the election commission did not rush to file charges against the party as claimed by the Democrats.

The tribunal also ruled that the Election Commission chairman had filed the suit against the Democrats in line with the party law, and that the suit was legitimate although the election was annulled because the alleged crime had already been committed.