Bangkok Post – Prime Minister's heart gesture upsets petitioners

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana calls for a ruling on whether Paetongtarn showed disrespect to her uniform

Serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has found another potentially serious offence to impeach Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the crime: Mini Heart Gesture while wearing her official uniform.

Already seeking to dissolve the Pheu Thai Party because it is “dominated” by Ms Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin, Mr Ruangkrai is once again busy studying the fine print in the ethics section of the constitution.

In his recent filings with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), he asked it to investigate whether Ms Paetongtarn's conduct during a photo session on September 7 violated Sections 17, 21 and 27(2) of the Constitution.

He also asked whether the case should be referred to the Supreme Court for a ruling under section 235(1) and whether she could face a lifetime political ban under section 235(4) of the Charter for persuading other Cabinet ministers to cross their thumbs and forefingers while posing in front of Government House in their white uniforms.

Most cabinet members followed suit until an official overseeing the photo session informed them that such a gesture was inappropriate for people in uniform.

Reactions to the incident from Thai internet users were mixed, but few saw it as a breach of ethics.

In his petition to the NACC, Mr Ruangkrai said videos of the event on TikTok and elsewhere were easily accessible to the public and could damage public confidence in the dignity of the Prime Minister's office.

Mr Ruangkrai, a former senator and member of the Palang Pracharath Party, has long been keen to target politicians he dislikes – sometimes with success.

His decisiveness was particularly notable when he forced the court-ordered resignation of Samak Sundaravej from the office of Prime Minister in 2008 because he had accepted a fee for a television cooking show.

Meanwhile, Warong Dechgitvigrom, the royalist chairman of the Thai Pakdee Party, announced that he would launch an investigation at the Election Commission on Wednesday to examine whether Thaksin Shinawatra was exerting undue influence on the Pheu Thai Party.

Paetongtarn, 38, the youngest daughter of Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, is the leader of the Pheu Thai party. She took over as prime minister after the Constitutional Court sacked Srettha Thavisin on August 14 over an ethics violation related to the appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chuenban, Thaksin's former lawyer, to the Cabinet.

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and several cabinet ministers make small heart signs during a group photo on September 7. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)