Bangkok: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has clarified that its expenditure of funds to support the ECT aligns with its legal authority and duties. This statement was made in response to allegations suggesting that the ECT's financial activities favored certain provinces or political parties, which the Commission firmly denies.
According to Thai News Agency, the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) emphasized that its announcement from July 23, 2024, regarding the criteria and procedures for disbursing support funds to the Democracy Development Promotion Center, complies with the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act B.E. 2560 (2017). The ECT highlighted that under Section 22 of the ECT Act B.E. 2560 (2017), it is mandated to issue regulations and promote democratic education and election monitoring without bias.
The ECT has also issued regulations for the Center for the Promotion of Democracy in Subdistricts, also known as the Center for Democracy, to support its mission. The Center aims to promote democratic participation and education, as well as ensure fair elections. It operates through 7,517 decentralized centers across the nation, involving volunteers from various community groups. These centers do not receive compensation but work to increase voter turnout and reduce invalid ballots.
The project proposals for these centers align with the Election Commission Regulations on the Democracy Development Center, and the centers that meet assessment criteria can receive budget support. The ECT has allocated a budget of 3,000,000 baht for fiscal year 2025 to support 150 Democracy Promotion Centers across 63 provinces. These funds are intended for training expenses and necessary operational costs, ensuring no preferential treatment for any particular province or political party.