15 Democrat Pongsin Senpong, front, concedes defeat in the by-election in Nakhon Si Thammarat s constituency 3, a long-time Democrat stronghold, on Sunday. He came second to the Palang Pracharat candidate. (Photo: Nujaree Raekrun)
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: The Democrat Party has lost a major stronghold, conceding defeat in the by-election in constituency 3 on Sunday.
About 9.45pm, after vote counting was completed, Nuchnapang Limdulpaiboon, director of the provincial election committee, announced the unofficial result.
He said Ayasit Srisuphan of the Palang Pracharath Party came first with 48,701 votes.
Second was Pongsin Senpong of the Democrat Party with 44,632 votes, followed by Sarawut Suwanrat of the Kla Party with 6,216, and Apirat Rattanapan of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, with 2,302 votes.
17 A billboard promoting Democrat candidate Pongsing Senpong is seen on a roadside in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)
The Democrat Party is fending off a challenge from its own coalition partner, Palang Pracharath, in a by-election that will be held on Sunday in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The by-election in Constituency 3 will not alter the political landscape as the coalition led by Palang Pracharath has a comfortable majority in the House. However, it has attracted national attention after the Democrats, led by sacked MP Thepthai Senpong, attacked Palang Pracharath for lacking “political etiquette” by fielding a candidate in the traditional Democrat stronghold.
Zuma defies court order, faces contempt charge
Bloomberg
The head of a South African judicial inquiry into state corruption said he would apply for former South African president Jacob Zuma to be held in contempt of court for ignoring a summons to testify, and for him to be jailed if he is found guilty.
Ignoring a summons “is very serious, because if it is allowed to prevail, there will be lawlessness and chaos in the courts,” South African Deputy Chief Judge Raymond Zondo said on Monday after Zuma failed to appear at a hearing of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture in Johannesburg.
published : 2 Feb 2021 at 11:58
32
The Election Commission has set March 7 for a by-election in constituency 3 of Nakhon Si Thammarat, following the disqualification of Thepthai Senpong of the Democrat Party by the Constitutional Court.
The EC has scheduled candidate registration for Feb 11-15, from 8.30am-4.30pm.
The Constitutional Court on Jan 27 announced the termination of Mr Thepthai s MP status.
The decision was based on the Nakhon Si Thammarat Court s ruling in August 2019, sentencing Mr Thepthai and his brother Manote each to a two-year jail term and a 10-year-ban from politics for vote-buying during the election of the provincial administration organisation chairman in 2014.