The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will tighten Prime Minister Yingluck's thumbscrews. The previously announced sub-panel investigation into her role as chair of the National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) has been dropped. Instead, there will probably be an impeachment procedure that can be completed within a month.
Today, the NACC is meeting to discuss its changed approach, which is leading to a significant acceleration. The sub-panel would need at least two months, the faster impeachment procedure being done by the commissioners themselves. It is being investigated whether Yingluck, who rarely attended the meetings of the NRPC, was negligent.
It's all about a corruption case, where a private rice deal was camouflaged as a G-to-G (government to government) deal. The sub-panel previously decided to prosecute 15 people, including two former ministers. The sub-panel did not happen overnight, because the investigation took a year.
Elections
Another hot topic is also being discussed today: the postponement of the elections. The Constitutional Court previously ruled that postponement is possible and instructed the Prime Minister and the Electoral Council to discuss a possible new date. That is about to happen today. But Bangkok Post thinks he knows that some 'key figures' in the cabinet want to push through the elections on Sunday.
The government has consulted the Council of State about a postponement. According to the council, there are no loopholes that would allow the government to go ahead and postpone the elections. [?] The Electoral Council insists on a postponement of four to five months. Just like last Sunday, disruptions are to be expected. Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is against postponement. He points out that the primaries on Sunday in 66 provinces went off without a hitch.
One thing is certain: the elections will not produce a working parliament on Sunday, because a district candidate is missing in 28 constituencies. As a result, 28 seats remain empty. The law requires at least 475 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives to be filled before parliament can start work. Without a working parliament, a new government cannot be formed.
(Source: bangkok mail, January 28, 2014)