The Election Commission has dismissed petitions asking that it examine whether the Pheu Thai Party's policy of a 10,000-baht digital handout to everyone aged 16 and over violates Section 73 of the law on the election of MPs.
The petitions were filed by Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a former election candidate of the Palang Pracharath Party, and Sonthiya Sawasdee, a former adviser to the House committee on law, justice and human rights.
Section 73 of the election law prohibits election candidates or other figures from promising to give voters assets, money or benefits. It also prohibits them from giving misleading information about policies. A party could be dissolved if found guilty of violating this section.
This policy of the Pheu Thai Party drew much criticism, with people questioning its feasibility.
In response, the EC asked Pheu Thai to explain where the money to implement the policy would come from, potential risks and the cost, as required by Section 57 of the Political Party Act.
The EC, at a meeting on Monday, resolved to reject the petitions on the grounds the party could explain during campaigning how its policy would be implemented if it was in government.
