New MPs can collect status documents

The Election Commission (EC) has asked elected candidates who have passed its certification process to collect papers endorsing their MP status while the consideration of complaints and endorsement for the rest will be clearer next week.

EC Secretary-General Mr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn on Thursday morning inspected the operation of his office to issue MP status documents for newly endorsed MPs for use in reporting themselves to Parliament. He said the process so far has been held in an orderly manner.

Mr Suthiphon continued that the fifth floor of the EC office at the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex will remain open, even on official holidays, including tomorrow Asalha Puja Day and Monday, the substitution holiday for the Buddhist Lent Day, in order to allow MPs to collect the documents.

The secretary-general confirmed that the EC will endorse the rest of the successful candidates within the legal timeframe of 30 days after the 3 July general election. He expected that many issues will be clearer next week, including complaints against election candidates whose status are yet to be certified.

Mr Suthiphon explained that the EC cannot endorse some elected candidates because of the pending consideration of complaints. He then pledged that the consideration of the EC will be thorough and fair to all sides although the EC will be put under pressure.