Pakdee survives impeachment bid

Pakdee was accused by Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap of violating Article 248 of the Constitution by failing to resign a private firm before accepting the NACC position. However, 84 senators voted in his support.

The Constitution requires votes from at least two-thirds or 112 senators to impeach the member of any constitutionally sanctioned independent organisation.

In his complaint, Anudith alleged that Pakdee was a Thai Watana Pharmaceutical Dextrose board director when he was appointed to the NACC. The minister, who is also a Pheu Thai Bangkok MP, also accused Pakdee of having a conflict of interest when he participated in a graft probe against former public health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan because he previously held a high post at the ministry. Pakdee has denied all charges. 

Political observers see this move to impeach Pakdee as Pheu Thai testing its strength against senators who support independent organisations before the party moves to try and cripple these agencies. 

However, this defeat would seem to show that the Pheu Thai still lacks sufficient support to move against independent agencies.