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Charter Court rejects EC’s request for ruling on party-list seat calculation

14 Sept 02:07 Key points summarised by AI

The Constitutional Court rejected the Election Commission's (EC) request for a ruling on the formula to calculate 150 party-list seats.
The Court ruled 7-2 that the EC has the sole duty and authority to calculate these seats according to the Constitution and MP Election Act.
It stated the EC had not fulfilled its duty, making its request to the court unjustified.
The confusion stemmed from allocating seats to smaller parties under the 'every vote counts' principle, even if they received fewer votes than the widely understood threshold.

Today 16:46 Key points summarised by AI

A dinner between Bhumjaithai and Kla Tham party leaders sparked rumors of a potential merger, though Bhumjaithai's leader, Anutin, downplayed it as a casual meal.
The meeting is widely interpreted as a strategic message from Bhumjaithai to the Pheu Thai party, signaling alternative support ahead of an upcoming no-confidence debate.
Thailand's Constitution (Section 99) currently prohibits direct mergers of parties with sitting MPs during the House's term, a rule designed to prevent the 'buying and selling' of MPs.
While direct mergers are restricted, MPs can still switch parties if dismissed by a three-fourths party vote or if their party dissolves, allowing for indirect political realignments.
Kla Tham's voting behavior in the censure debate will demonstrate its loyalty to the government, potentially influencing future political dynamics despite current merger restrictions.