EC denies ‘red card’ election claims
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday denied messages widely shared on social media platforms which claimed the agency will give “red cards” to some political parties for committing irregularities in the March 24 general election.
The messages were posted on Facebook by “Nitiphumthanat Ming-rujiralai” and on Twitter by “Nitipoom Navaratana”. The accounts have different names but the photos show Nitipoom Navaratana, deputy leader of the Prachachart Party.
The message claimed the EC is preparing to give 28 red cards to the anti-junta Pheu Thai party, 15 to Future Forward and two to pro-junta Palang Pracharat. It said the by-elections would be on April 21.
Nitipoom meanwhile told reporters that he had nothing to do with the false messages, claiming he believed it was the work of one of his close aides. He claimed he had not used either account for a long time and had forgotten the passwords.
The EC asked the public not to share the messages, saying they could face prosecution. The body said there were at least 186 cases of electoral irregularities that were still under investigation.