EC dragging its feet

The Constitutional Court's order for Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong to suspend his duties in overseeing the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has created public anxiety over a crisis of trust in the Upper House.

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The charter court's ruling on Wednesday came in response to a petition lodged by senators accusing the justice minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai of meddling in a probe into alleged vote-rigging in the latest Senate election.

Both ministers reportedly ordered the DSI to pursue money laundering cases related to allegations of vote-buying involving 92 senators during last June's polls.

Scores of senators have been accused by petitioners of rigging the election.

As most of the winning senators are aligned with the Bhumjaithai Party, analysts see the ongoing wrestling in the Upper Chamber as a proxy war between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its major coalition partner.