EC: Major decisions (updated)

Both Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva must have been a little nervous yesterday as the EC decided whether or not to endorse them as MPs.

Yingluck was accused of illegal help while Abhisit faced vote-buying allegations.

Evening update

The Election Commission has endorsed the election of Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva, No 1 candidates of Pheu Thai and Democrat party lists, commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham said.

Mrs Sodsri said the EC's endorsement of Ms Yingluck and Mr Abhisit was unanimous.

The EC also certified the election of 10 other elected candidates, including Suthep Thaugsuban, Chinnicha Wongsawat and Thanin Jaisamut.

Other MPs-elect including leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) had not yet been endorsed, she said.

Mrs Sodsri was confident the EC would be able to gradually endorse the remaining MPs-elect needed to meet the required number of at least 475 in time for the opening of the new House of Representatives.

The EC's next meeting to certify MPs-elect would be held on July 21, she said.

From bangkokpost.com

Election Commission – the independent government agency that oversees elections คณะกรรมการเลือกตั้ง
endorse – to officially approve รับรอง
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
party-list system – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
commissioner – a member of a commission, a group of people who have been formally chosen to discover information about a problem or examine the reasons why the problem exists กรรมาธิการ  ผู้ได้รับมอบหมายอำนาจหน้าที่
unanimous – agreed by everyone เป็นเอกฉันท์
certify – to give somebody an official document proving that they are qualified to work in a particular profession  รับรอง,ลงนามเป็นพยาน
-elect – of someone who has been elected to a position but has not yet taken power ว่าที่
confident – being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future มั่นใจ
gradually – slowly and in small stages or amounts อย่างทีละน้อย

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Judgement day awaits Abhisit and Yingluck

POST REPORTERS

The fate of Pheu Thai's likely prime ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra and outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be known today as the Election Commission is scheduled to consider complaints against them.

The election body also is prepared to endorse a second batch of MPs-elect.

EC commissioner Somchai Juengprasert yesterday said the complaints against the winning candidates to be heard today involve those concerning Mr Abhisit, Ms Yingluck and some red-shirt leaders who contested under the Pheu Thai's party-list system.

Mr Abhisit is accused of vote buying when he approved a "Blue Flag" trade fair in Samut Prakan on June 26, the advance voting day.

Ms Yingluck faces complaints that she allowed certain banned politicians to assist her in the election campaign.

Mr Somchai said that it depended on the evidence whether the winners would be cleared of the allegations against them and endorsed as MPs.

He also denied that the EC had come under pressure to suspend the endorsement of Ms Yingluck's MP status, insisting the outcome depended on the gravity of the evidence.

The commissioner expected the EC to be able to endorse at least 475 MPs, or 95% of the overall 500, within 30 days of the July 3 election so the House can convene its first meeting.

He said that endorsed MPs could still be disqualified later if they were found to have violated election regulations.

The EC has so far given its blessing to 358 successful election candidates.

Mr Somchai said it was up to the EC to decide if they would accept further complaints against election winners for consideration after today.

An anti-corruption network yesterday submitted more evidence to back up its complaints against Ms Yingluck.

The evidence included photos of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat joining her on the campaign trail and Pheu Thai's campaign slogan "Thaksin Thinks, Pheu Thai acts".

illegal – against the law  ผิดกฎหมาย
allegation – an accusation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
judgement – a decision by a court of law or other decision-making group คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
fate – the things that happen or will happen to someone ชะตากรรม
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
Election Commission – the independent government agency that oversees elections คณะกรรมการเลือกตั้ง
scheduled – planned to happen at a particular time or day ตามตารางเวลา
body – a group of people who work or act together, often for an official purpose, or who are connected in some other way กลุ่มคน, นิติบุคคล
endorse  – to officially approve รับรอง
batch – a group of things or people dealt with at the same time or considered similar in type ชุด, กลุ่ม
-elect – of someone who has been elected to a position but has not yet taken power ว่าที่
commissioner – a member of a commission, a group of people who have been formally chosen to discover information about a problem or examine the reasons why the problem exists กรรมาธิการ  ผู้ได้รับมอบหมายอำนาจหน้าที่
contest – to take part in an election or other competition ลงแข่ง, ลงรับเลือกตั้ง
party-list system – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
advance – before the time that is expected; before something happens ล่วงหน้า
banned – officially not allowed to do something ถูกห้าม
assist – to help ช่วย
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not something is true หลักฐาน
deny – to say that something is not true ปฏิเสธ
pressure – trying to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way แรงกระตุ้น, การบีบบังคับ
suspended – to officially stop from doing a job ถอดออกจากตำแหน่ง
status – official or legal position สถานภาพ
outcome – a result ผล
gravity – the seriousness or importance of something ความสำคัญ,ความจริงจัง
convene – to gather for a meeting มาชุมนุมกัน
disqualify – to not allow someone to do something because they have committed an offence ไม่มีคุณสมบัติพอ
violate – to do something that is against a law, rule or agreement ฝ่าฝืน, ละเมิด
regulation – an official rule that controls the way that things are done กฎระเบียบ
give its blessing – to give its official agreement or permission รับรองแล้ว
consideration – giving careful thought to something before making a decision การคิดพิจารณา
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
back up – to support ให้การสนับสนุน
campaign trail – the events and activities that are part of an election campaign กิจกรรมในการรณรงค์หาสียง