Constitutional Court Dismisses Petition Regarding Nakhon Si Thammarat Election Disqualification

On August 13, 2026, the Constitutional Court of Thailand issued a unanimous ruling to dismiss a petition filed by Mr. Kongkiat Ketsombat, a former candidate for the Kla Tham Party in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s 7th constituency. Mr. Kongkiat had sought a review under Article 213 of the Constitution, alleging that his rights were violated by the Election Commission (EC) and the Supreme Court’s Election Division.

These authorities had previously ordered the removal of Mr. Kongkiat’s name from the candidate list, citing Section 42 (12) of the 2018 Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives, which outlines specific prohibitions for election candidates. The Constitutional Court determined that the legal proceedings regarding his disqualification have already reached a final conclusion, thereby refusing to accept the case for further deliberation. Additionally, the court declined to hear a separate complaint regarding the EC’s design of the referendum ballot, which did not include options for individual constitutional amendments.

For residents and travellers, this ruling underscores the finality of judicial decisions regarding electoral eligibility in Thailand. While this specific case is now closed, it highlights the strict enforcement of candidate qualifications under the 2018 Organic Act. Observers should note that the court’s decision confirms the existing legal framework remains unchanged. Further developments regarding future electoral procedures or potential legislative amendments to the referendum process remain to be confirmed by the relevant authorities.