Thai Court Accepts Election Commission Lawsuit Over Wrongly Certified Candidates
Thailand's Supreme Court has accepted a lawsuit challenging the Election Commission's certification of two parliamentary candidates from Amnat Charoen who allegedly registered under the wrong occupational category, potentially affecting the
On September 10, 2025, reserve parliamentarian Akkhrawat Pongthanachalikul announced that on September 9 the Supreme Court's election division accepted case number election-10/2025 for consideration. The case challenges the Election Commission's approval process for the 2024 parliamentary election, specifically questioning whether the certification of candidates was conducted with integrity and fairness.
The complaint centers on two candidates from Amnat Charoen province—Daeng Kongma and Somphan Palasak—who listed their occupations as fresh pork seller and noodle vendor. According to the complainant, these occupations fall under occupational group 19, which covers independent traders and merchants. However, the candidates were certified under group 10, which covers other business operators.
Akkhrawat stated the case is not a personal matter but concerns the electoral system's proportional representation and the risk of systemic distortion. He questioned whether the candidates' vote totals and election outcomes were natural or resulted from manipulation.
The case has been described as historic, as it opens investigation into the Election Commission's certification of candidates accused of registering under the wrong occupational category. Akkhrawat called for a thorough court examination to establish the truth in the public interest, noting potential implications for the constitution and parliamentary election systems at district, provincial, and national levels.
The complainant's main demands include revoking the Election Commission's certification of the two candidates, their immediate removal from office, barring them from future candidacy, and criminal prosecution under article 74 for knowingly registering without proper qualifications.
Akkhrawat also revealed he has filed a separate criminal complaint against the Amnat Charoen provincial election director for allegedly concealing information about the candidates' qualifications and the Commission's decision, to determine if any intentional misconduct occurred.
