Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Election Commission has confirmed that political party policies are currently under review to ensure they do not violate any laws.
According to Thai News Agency, the Secretary-General, Mr. Saeng Boonmee, commented on the first meeting of the newly established committee tasked with examining political party policies used in advertising, specifically concerning expenditure. This meeting took place on January 14th. Mr. Saeng emphasized that the committee, composed of experts from various fields, holds high standards and has requested additional information from some parties, which might require them to allocate campaign time for clarification. The committee will evaluate policies based on criteria such as legal completeness, funding sources, and associated benefits and risks.
Mr. Saeng highlighted the importance of the committee's role in assisting citizens to make informed decisions about their choice of political parties. Observations and findings from the committee will be made available to the public five days before the election. He noted that representatives from each political party would participate via video conference during the policy review process to answer the committee's questions. The review has already seen nearly 20 parties submit their policies, with five submitting documents ahead of time. Mr. Saeng clarified that the committee's purpose is not to approve projects but to observe the feasibility of policy implementation. He urged the committee to communicate their observations clearly and understandably.
Mr. Saeng assured that none of the submitted policies violated legal standards and that enforcement would not solely target populist policies. He stated that while some policies entail significant expenditure, they are designed to be implemented over the government's term. Should any policy negatively impact the country's financial status, the committee will highlight the pros and cons to aid public decision-making. Mr. Saeng expressed optimism about the committee's establishment, noting that future iterations might introduce stricter rules and criteria. Ultimately, he believes the committee's work will benefit the public, as political parties adjust to safeguard public interest and benefit the people.