BANGKOK, Jan 23 — National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said today that NLA members cast their votes independently earlier in the day regarding three former politicians, including ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij and ex-House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont survived impeachment votes, while Ms Yingluck did not and will be banned from political activities for five years after the NLA voted 190 in favour of impeachment, while 18 were opposed it and 11 abstained.
The motion requires a minimum of 132 votes of all 220 NLA members in order to impeach her. One member was absent due to illness.
Reiterating that the impeachment process was carried out transparently under NLA regulations, Mr Pornpetch said the assembly cast their votes in making their own decisions and no one could sway their decisions.
He said votes on Mr Nikom and Mr Somsak were based following a debate whether the 2007 constitution was still in enforcement following the May 22 military takeover of admistrative power which toppled the Yingluck administration.
Mr Pornpetch noted that there were limited legal problems concerning the charges against Ms Yingluck, for example, whether the NLA is empowered to impeach her.
But it was concluded that NLA is performing its duty both as the House of Representatives and the Senate for the time being, therefore, it is its responsibility to execute the motion, Mr Pornpetch explained. (MCOT online news)
