Constitution Court disqualifies Jatuporn
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The Constitution Court Friday disqualified Jatuporn Promphan as a Pheu Thai MP. The Constitution Court judges voted 7 to 1 to disqualify Jatuporn on the grounds that he was not qualified to apply as an election candidate.
The court reasoned that the Political Parties Act prohibits anyone who cannot cast a vote to become a member of a political party.
Since Jatuporn was detained on May 12 and was only released on August 2, he was unable to cast his vote in the general election and was thus not qualified to become a member of the Pheu Thai.
Since he could not become a Pheu Thai member, his election candidacy was invalid, and his election victory was therefore also invalidated.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Jatuporn said the verdict was not unexpected and that he accepted the ruling.
He said he was also resigned to his fate.
“I had prepared myself to hear this ruling. I’ve been fighting against unrighteousness all along. My detention was not legal but I accept my fate. Now, I have become an ordinary person,” Jatuporn said.
He said he would soon apply to become a Pheu Thai member. He said he would explain his disqualification to the red-shirt people, who might feel pain over the ruling.
It has been speculated that Jatuporn might become a Cabinet member in the next Cabinet reshuffle.
Jatuporn said he had not yet been informed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about his appointment. He added that it would be up to the prime minister as to whether he would be appointed to the Cabinet or not.
