Election Commission considers appointing a new set of legal advisors

EC, EC prepares to appoint a new set of legal advisors after "Surapol" joined as a witness in the party dissolution case for "Move Forward" and "Boonsong" resigned to become a senator. Reporters reported that the Election Commission recently resolved to restructure the legal advisory board of the Election Commission after Mr. Boonsong Noisophon, former Election Commissioner and chairman of the legal advisory board, submitted a resignation letter after being elected as a member of the Senate. The legal advisory board of the EC is comprised of seven members nominated by each EC member, including: Mr. Boonsong Noisophon, former Election Commissioner, is the chairman. Mr. Sirichai Jiraboonsri, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mr. Samreang Mekkriangkrai, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University Mr. Anurak Niyomwet, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University Mr. Watcharin Phanurat, Deputy Attorney General, Office of Investigation Mr. Surapol Nitikraipot, former president of Thamm asat University, former dean of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University Mr. Boonrod Tanprasert, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reporters reported that before Mr. Boonsong submitted his resignation letter, it was reported that the EC was uncomfortable and considered that Mr. Surapol Nitikraipot, one of the legal advisors, went to testify as a witness for the Move Forward Party in the case that the EC filed a request for the Constitutional Court to consider and rule on the dissolution of the Move Forward Party due to overthrowing the government and acting in a way that may be hostile to the democratic regime with the King as head of state, according to Section 92, paragraph one (1) and (2) of the Political Party Act 2017, due to the reason for proposing an amendment to Section 112 of the Criminal Code and having a campaign policy to amend it in a way that would repeal the said law. Mr. Surapol gave a statement indicating that the EC's resolution to submit a petition to dissolve the Move Forward Pa rty was unlawful because it did not follow the legal process, which was an inappropriate action. Therefore, when Mr. Boonsong submitted his resignation letter, the EC saw it as an appropriate opportunity to change the EC advisors to be more appropriate. It is expected that each EC will propose the names of individuals to the meeting to be appointed as the new EC legal advisory board to replace the old one soon. Source: Thai News Agency