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BANGKOK - THREE politicians linked to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra who won seats in Thailand's recent election have been disqualified for vote buying, the Election Commission said.
The candidates from north-eastern Buriram province are members of the pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP), which gained the most seats in Dec 23 elections, the first since a military coup last year.
'They were accused of paying voters,' Election-Commission (EC) secretary general Suthiphon Thaveehchaiyagarn told reporters on Sunday.
'The commissioners have decided to withdraw those three candidates' election rights for one year, and will organise a re-run of the election,' he added.
Mr Suthiphon said the three disqualified candidates will likely face legal action and would have to pay for the by-elections in their province, which authorities have 30 days to organise.
PPP will not be able to field any candidates in the three by-elections, reducing their overall number of parliamentary seats.
Three other PPP lawmakers will have to re-stand for their seats in north-east Nakhon Ratchasima province, after the EC ruled that there was possible electoral fraud, but not enough evidence to disqualify the candidates.
PPP won 233 of the 480 seats up for grabs in Thailand's lower house, just short of the majority needed to government alone. They are expected to announce details of a coalition government on Friday.
Their win was a blow to the military junta, which had sought to rid Thailand of Thaksin's political influence.
A slate of electoral fraud claims were filed with the EC after the poll, and the commission is still investigating the cases. Consequently more candidates could yet be disqualified, shuffling the balance of power among the parties. -- AFP
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