Election Commission Starts Handing MP Endorsement Letters, Flags More Ongoing Probes

The Election Commission (EC) has started distributing the endorsement letters among incoming MPs after certifying the results for all 500 members of the House of Representatives. However, it also said that 82 MPs are under investigation for breach of electoral laws, despite earlier flagging probes into just 71 lawmakers.

• The certification of results has started the 15-day countdown to the deadline for convening parliament. This means that the House of Representatives will meet between now and July 4 to elect its Speaker and two Deputy Speakers.
• Once this is completed, parliament will get to vote on the new Prime Minister. We may get some more details on the possible timeline for the government formation after the meeting of MFP-led coalition leaders on Thursday.
• It remains uncertain if the bloc will be able to take power, as it fights an uphill battle against a flurry of legal complaints, as well as general scepticism from majority of Senators and other representatives of the military-royalist establishment.
• The EC confirmed that the investigation into Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat's media shares is ongoing, but it could not confirm if the probe will be concluded before the parliamentary vote for the Prime Minister.