BANGKOK, Jan 10 – The Supreme Court has rejected a potential election candidate’s petition, seeking its ruling to qualify him as a contestant in the Feb 2 general elections despite his failure to register his candidacy with the Election Commission
Jirayuth Sudjit lodged his complaint with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, saying he could not enter the election registration site in Thung Song district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Jan 1.
He said he intended to run in the election under the Pracha Samakki Party banner but the registration was disrupted.
Election registration venues in several southern provinces were blocked by anti-government protesters during the nationwide registration from Dec 27 to Jan 1.
The court said it was empowered to rule on the case only after an election director has completed the registration of a candidate but failed to formally announce his name for the contest.
The court said the Election Commission was obliged to handle Mr Jirayuth’s case and see to it that its obligation to hold an election would be accomplished.
It’s not the Supreme Court’s authority to enforce Mr Jirayuth’s request, the court said.
It was reported that 107 politicians who failed to register their candidacies lodged similar petitions to the Supreme Court this week.
The Supreme Court will give similar clarification to the politicians from Pheu Thai, Chat Pattana and a few small parties.
