Prime Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra was recently seen arriving at Shinawatra Tower 3 on August 20 to engage in discussions with party MPs. The photograph capturing her arrival was taken by Pattarapong Chatpattanasill.
Notorious petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has stirred the political waters once again by urging the Election Commission (EC) to scrutinize the legitimacy of Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s prime ministerial role. His primary concern revolves around the exact date she resigned from a slew of positions in the Shinawatra family’s sprawling business empire. Mr. Ruangkrai, with his usual fervor, revealed on Wednesday that he had dispatched his latest petition to the EC via express mail service (EMS).
According to Mr. Ruangkrai, Ms. Paetongtarn was officially elected as the prime minister by the House of Representatives on August 16. However, he questioned whether she had indeed stepped down from all her executive roles within the family’s companies by August 15. The scandal deepened when Mr. Ruangkrai pointed out that her resignation was only registered on August 19, which curiousy aligned with three days post her election.
The petition delivered on Wednesday requests the EC to determine whether Ms. Paetongtarn’s appointment as prime minister is invalid under the stringent stipulations of Section 170 (5) and Section 187 of the constitution. While Section 170 (5) examines the ethical conduct of cabinet ministers, Section 187 explicitly forbids a minister or their spouse from retaining shares in commercial enterprises.
Mr. Ruangkrai didn’t stop there. He referenced a report by Isra News Agency dated August 26, which claimed that Ms. Paetongtarn had resigned from her posts in all 21 companies affiliated with the Shinawatra family. On August 15, she had apparently authorized a trusted aide to manage the paperwork, which was later filed with the Department of Business Development on August 19. Mr. Ruangkrai couldn’t resist highlighting the curious timing, as Ms. Paetongtarn had granted this power of attorney just a day after the Constitutional Court dismissed former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.
Ms. Paetongtarn, leading the ruling Pheu Thai Party and being the youngest daughter of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, received royal endorsement as the 31st prime minister of Thailand on August 18. The petitioner raised questions regarding the delay in submitting her resignation documents, suggesting that Ms. Paetongtarn may not have resigned by the said date. He pressed the EC to evaluate if her prime ministerial status should be revoked if it was found that her resignations were formalized only after her election.
Mr. Ruangkrai remains diligent in gathering corroborative evidence from various state agencies. He plans to compile and present this trove of information to the EC imminently to bolster his petition. Meanwhile, on her visit to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters at Shinawatra Tower 3 in Bangkok, Ms. Paetongtarn chose to remain silent on the petition filed by Mr. Ruangkrai.
This is just another witch hunt by Ruangkrai. Paetongtarn’s leadership should be respected!
I disagree. We must hold our leaders to the highest standards of ethics!
True, but political opponents love to blow things out of proportion.
Exactly, James K. And how convenient that the opposition uses a technicality like this to try and topple her.
It’s good to be cautious. If someone did something wrong, they should face the consequences.
Every politician should be subject to scrutiny. Paetongtarn isn’t above the law.
Ruangkrai is known for making noise but he often lacks solid evidence.
Sounds like every politician I know!
Haha, true. Let’s see what evidence he brings this time though.
If she didn’t truly resign before the election, then this is a serious breach!
Indeed! Why didn’t she ensure all was in order before the election?
Sometimes these processes take time. It’s not always cut and dry.
But she should have prioritized it, knowing it could become an issue.
Agree. Transparency is crucial in leadership.
The Shinawatra family has done a lot for Thailand. This is just political sabotage.
Political dynasties are dangerous. It’s not sabotage to ask for transparency.
Transparency, yes, but this seems more about political power plays.
Ruangkrai should focus on real issues affecting Thailand instead of these petty battles.
Holding leaders accountable isn’t petty! It’s essential for democracy.
And what about her competence to lead the country? Why focus only on her past roles?
Because integrity and ethics matter, Nodeft42.
This will likely end in another drawn-out legal battle. Thailand deserves better.
I don’t understand how she could even take the PM role if she hadn’t resigned properly.
There’s always a loophole, RoseBlossom.
If Section 187 forbids this, then her PM status should absolutely be revoked!
Let’s wait for a complete investigation before jumping to conclusions.
Anyone surprised by political corruption? Business and politics are always entangled.
Paetongtarn should step down voluntarily if the allegations are true. It would be the honorable thing to do.
Learning about this makes me think politics is just full of lies. Sad!
Back in the day, politicians had more accountability. Times have changed.