Phiphat Denies Bhumjaithai Role in Senate Election Case

BANGKOK — Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Tuesday reiterated that the Bhumjaithai Party had no involvement in the alleged Senate election collusion case, rejecting claims that people named by the Election Commission (EC) were part of his political network.

Phiphat spoke to reporters at Government House as he arrived to chair a Cabinet meeting. When pressed by reporters over claims linking people referred for prosecution by the EC to his network, Phiphat said: "We have to make it clear that I have nothing to do with the senators," adding that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had repeatedly stated that Bhumjaithai was not involved.

Phiphat said the party could not interfere in Senate affairs because senators do not belong to political parties. Asked about claims that certain individuals were part of his political base, he said it was normal for politicians to have friends across the political spectrum. "As politicians, it is normal for us to have friends. I am not denying that we know each other, but we cannot support or assist them," he said.

When asked whether he felt relieved following the EC decision, Phiphat said the opposition had the right to continue pursuing the matter. He also said he had not yet spoken with Deputy Interior Minister Worasilp Liangprasert, whose father is among those referred for prosecution in the case, and had not discussed the matter with Prime Minister Anutin because he was in Vietnam on official assignment.

Asked whether the government would be able to move forward smoothly once the issue was over, Phiphat deferred to the prime minister for comment.