CDC applies stiff new rules on would-be MPs

CDC spokesman Chatchai na Chiang Mai said there would be 17 restrictions for MP candidates. The following are not allowed to apply as MP candidates:

Drug addicts, bankrupt people or former bankrupts and corrupt individuals, people who face an election ban, people whose election rights have been revoked, people who are being sentenced to jail or are detained under court order, people who served a jail term and were released less than ten years before the election date - except for offences related to negligence or petty offences.

Also banned from applying as MP candidates:

Those dismissed from duty by state agencies or state enterprises for corruption or malfeasance, those who face court orders to have their assets confiscated for being “unusually wealthy”.

Those who were sentenced by court for abuse of authority, for committing offences as state officials or state enterprise workers, or committed corruption or malfeasance, those sentenced by a court for electoral fraud, those who were sentenced by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders to be dismissed from their post

Also on the restricted list:

Members of local councils and member of local administrative organisations.

Former Senators whose terms had ended not more than two years previously.

Those who are workers or employees of state agencies and state enterprises.

Those who are Constitutional Court judges, members of the Election Commission, the Auditor General, National Anti-Corruption Commission members, State Audit Commission members, National Human Rights Commission members.

Those who are banned from holding political posts.

MPs can lose their seats if three/fourths of the executive board of their party rules to dismiss them from the post, except for MPs who quit their party and found a new party within 30 days.

Chatchai said politicians who have been impeached by the National Legislative Assembly and want to apply as MP candidates must have the Election Commission rule on their qualifications. If the EC rules against them, they could appeal the ruling with the Supreme Court, whose verdict is final.

In the case of MPs whose constituency becomes vacant, not because of House dissolution, by-elections would be held within 45 days. For party list MPs, the Parliament President would announce MPs next in line in that party to fill the vacancy. If the party does not have an MP next in line, filling the vacancy is not needed.