The Thai Constitution Protection Association on June 3 issued a statement calling on Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to step down before the Constitutional Court makes a verdict on the scandal related to his wife’s failure to declare her stockholdings.
Bangkok (VNA) - The ThaiConstitution Protection Association on June 3 issued a statement calling on ForeignMinister Don Pramudwinai to step down before the Constitutional Court makes averdict on the scandal related to his wife’s failure to declare her stockholdings.
Pressure is increasing on Don after the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand reportedly found he did not meet theministerial qualifications required by the Constitution.
The EC report, which said that Don breached the law due to his wife Narirat’s failure to declare herstockholdings, came out on May 31.
In the statement, Srisuwan Janya,Secretary-General of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, said: “Ithas happened to many ministers and politicians in the past and the publicdemanded that they resign to prevent a conflict of interest as well as toprotect the image of Thai politics.”
Somsak Prisananantakul, a seniorpolitician in the Chart Thai Pattana Party, said Don should suspend himselffrom office to pave the way for the government leader, Prime Minister PrayutChan-o-cha, to be able to press on with national reforms.
Earlier, the EC reportedly voted 3-2 todisqualify Don from holding his position based on the undeclared assets. The ECwill next petition the Constitutional Court for a final verdict on whether Donshould be dismissed from his present job.
The EC made the decision after findingthat Don’s wife had failed to declare holdings of more than a 5-per-cent stakein a company within 30 days of Don joining the Cabinet.
Article 187 of the current Constitutionprohibits ministers, their spouses and children under the legal age of 20 yearsold from benefiting from stock holdings beyond legal limits.
They must declare their stock holdingsto the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and transfer them to legallyauthorised people to manage them without their involvement.-VNA
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Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
