Ombudsman seeks court ruling on political party law
The Ombudsman on Friday submitted the political party law amended by the junta order to the Constitutional Court, seeking a ruling on its constitutionality.
The decision was made after the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties filed a complaint that junta order No 53/60 was unconstitutional.
The junta order has amended two articles in the political party organic law.
One article requires party members to confirm their membership by submitting documents proving their qualifications within 30 days.
The other article requires parties to convene within 90 days of the political ban being lifted and set up at least four branches. At least 250 members must take part in the meeting.
The Ombudsman’s office secretary-general Rakkecha Chaechai said on Friday both amendments had constitutional issues.
They could be a deprivation of rights and could be a burden on political parties hence a ruling is being sought from the court, he said.
However, Rakkecha said the junta order by itself was legitimate. Only the amendments it had introduced raised problems related to constitutionality, he said.