Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has insisted that the governor of Pathum Thani, has the sole authority to decide on the fate of Pheu Thai candidate Charn Puangpetch, who won the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) mayoral election on Sunday.
Charn’s election victory hit a snag, because he is currently on trial in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on corruption charges, related to when he was the Pathum Thani PAO chief several years ago.
Earlier, the secretary general of the Council of State said that Charn could not perform his duty, despite his election victory, because of the corruption case.
As the interior minister, Anutin said he would not risk his career by defying the law and would heed the opinion of the Council of State.
He added that he is not concerned that his stance might offend the Pheu Thai party because he is committed to adhering to the law.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Chusak Sirinil claimed that only the court could order Charn to stop functioning as the PAO mayor after the latter’s election victory on Sunday.
Former law lecturer at Thammasat University, Kaewsan Atibodhi, said there is no need for the Supreme Court to issue a new order to stop Charn from performing his duty, because the court issued the same order in the corruption charges against him several years ago, citing Section 81 of the anti-corruption law, unless the court decides otherwise.
He said he agrees with the opinion of the secretary general of the Council of State.
He also said that the governor of Pathum Thani would be held accountable if they allow the Pheu Thai candidate to perform his duties, adding that Interior Minister Anutin has the authority to order the governor to follow the law.
Kaewsan then suggested that Charn step aside and offer a public apology as a graceful exit from this political dilemma.
Charn has disappeared from the public scene since Sunday. His wife told reporters visiting their house that her husband went upcountry to rest after the long campaign.
File photo : Charn Puangpetch
