The Election Commission (EC) has come under fire for alleged taxpayer-funded overseas trips during the Songkran holidays. However, the EC Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong has clarified that the visits were necessary to inspect advance voting preparations for the upcoming general election on May 14.
Ittiporn revealed that the EC members had visited Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa, with the budget for the inspections already approved by the House of Representatives. He emphasized that the embassies in these countries would assist Thai citizens eligible to vote in the election and the EC is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the transportation of ballots. Ittiporn assured that the ballots collected abroad would be transferred to Thailand by May 9.
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