Former election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn has the right to comment publicly on politics as long as he does not break any law, a key government figure said on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam reiterated on Monday that he believes that the legal procedures against political office holders in criminal cases law could be applied retroactively against alleged wrongdoers, opening up the possibility that this could be applied to the outstanding cases against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.