Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Election Commission stated that parliamentary candidates involved with gambling websites have not yet lost their qualifications, as long as there is no court ruling sentencing them to imprisonment. These candidates can remain in the race unless they voluntarily resign from their party or are expelled.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Saeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), discussed the situation of Mr. Ratchapong Soisuwan, a candidate from the People's Party in Tak Province, who was apprehended and charged with involvement in an online gambling website. Mr. Boonmee explained that without grounds for disqualification, Mr. Soisuwan can remain a candidate until February 8, 2026, and until the EC announces the results. Allegations alone do not disqualify a candidate; they must be backed by a court ruling. If grounds for disqualification arise, such as resignation or expulsion from the party, the district director would appeal to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules before the election, Mr. Soisuwan's name would be removed from the candidate list. Without such a ruling, he remains a candidate, and voters can elect him. If he is elected, the EC will review his case. A disqualification would result in cancelling the election for that constituency and ordering a new one. If no t elected, there will be no issue.
Mr. Saeng further clarified that even if Mr. Soisuwan is not granted bail and is imprisoned during the investigation, it does not automatically disqualify him. Under the current Constitution, Section 98, a candidate is only disqualified if there is a judgment of imprisonment and detention. A candidate must not have a disqualifying characteristic, such as becoming a monk, which would necessitate the district director to seek the Supreme Court's intervention to withdraw his name. Post-election, the EC would not announce him as the elected candidate if disqualified.
Regarding candidates with seized assets, Mr. Saeng noted that unless there is a judgment of imprisonment and detention by court order, the individual is considered only an accused person and remains eligible. Even if a court sentences imprisonment but suspends it, the law requires both sentencing and detention as conditions for disqualification, according to Section 98 (6).