BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled unanimously that Section 128 of the MP election organic law pertaining to counting formula for party-list MP is constitutional.
According to press statement on Wednesday, the court said Section 91 of the constitution and Section 128 of the MP election organic law both set a method to allocate party-list MPs with Section 128 specifies detailed calculation method to ensure there would be 150 list MPs and thus constitutional.
The ruling clears the way for the Election Commission(EC) to announce the official results of the party-list MP allocation soon since they have to release it before Thursday, according to laws.
The allocation method of party-list MP is controversial in Thailand as there were different understands of Section 128, which led to two formulas with one would give the opposition side more seats and the other lessens their seats, giving seats to many small parties.
The EC may apply the latter since they earlier said there would be some 27 political parties entering the national assembly.
EC announced on Tuesday that a list of 349 candidates who have won constituency-based MP seats in the March 24 election. Among them, the oppostion Pheu Thai (for Thais) Party won 136 seats, pro-government Palang Pracharath (power of people's state) Party won 97 seats, Bhumjaithai Party 39 seats, Democrat Party won 33 seats, Future Forward Party won 30 seats, Prachachart Party and Chartthaipattana Party, both won 6 seats, and Chartpattana Party and Action Coalition for Thailand Party both won 1 seat.
The House of Representative of Thailand's national assembly consists of 350 constituency-based MPs and 150 party-list MPs.
The total 500 MPs, together with 250 senators selected by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order led by current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, would elect a new prime minister of Thailand.
