The ruling bans Udomdej Rattanasatien and Narisorn Thongthiraj from holding any political office for five years.
A total of 221 NLA members voted to impeach Narisorn, while 206 voted to impeach Udomdej.
Narisorn is a former MP for Sakon Nakhon and Udomdej |represented Nonthaburi in the |previous House of Representatives.
In accordance with procedure, the NLA will now inform the accused, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Cabinet and the relevant state agencies.
In their statements made before the NLA, both politicians dismissed separate allegations by the NACC. Narisorn denied having voted on behalf of his party colleagues with their electronic ID cards.
Udomdej denied having submitted a constitutional amendment that had been tampered with to seek endorsement from Parliament.
However, the NACC maintained there was strong evidence against them, including video recordings.
Support from at least three fifths of the 250 NLA members, or 150 votes, is required to impeach |public office holders.
The legislative assembly also acts as the Senate, in accordance with the post-coup interim charter. But the NLA will not have the power of both Houses after the new constitution is promulgated.
Meanwhile, Chief Charter Drafter Meechai Ruchupan said the impeachment of the two former MPs would result in their electoral rights revoked for five years following the anti corruption law. However, this had nothing to do with revocation of electoral rights addressed in the new charter as it no longer addressed impeachment and its political implications.
But as their rights were revoked, that would result in them not being able to hold any political positions in the future.
They would also be barred from holding executive positions of |political parties as well, Meechai said.
Under the new charter, political rights including electoral rights would be revoked if proven guilty through the justice process, not impeachment, the CDC chief said.
The impeachment process relied on votes in parliament which, he said, was a political process that sometimes did not take evidence into account. So, it did not necessarily mean one was actually guilty.
As politics needs some changes and those found guilty should no longer enter politics, the process needed solid proof of guilt and that was the reason why the justice process was taken seriously under the new rule written in the new charter, rather than impeachment.
Meechai said it was possible that impeachment and its implication would later be addressed in the new political code of conduct.
Meanwhile, Chief Charter Drafter Meechai Ruchupan said the impeachment of the two former Mps would result in their electoral rights revoked for five years following the anti corruption law. However, this has nothing to do with revocation of electoral rights addressed in the new charter as it has no longer addressed impeachment and its political implications.
But as their rights are revoked, that would result in them not being able to hold any political positions in the future. They would also be barred from holding executive positions of political parties as well, Meechai added.
Under the new charter, political rights including electoral rights would be revoked if proved guilty through justice process, not impeachment, said Meechai.
Impeachment process, he said, rely on votes in parliament which is rather a political process that sometimes does not take evidence into account, and thus does not necessarily mean one’s actual guilt.
As the current politics needs some changes and those found guilty should no longer enter politics, this needs a solid proof of guilt and that’s the reason why justice process is taken seriously under the new rule written in the new charter, rather than impeachment.
Meechai said it’s possible that impeachment and its implication would later be addressed in the new political ethics code of conduct.