Media report: Thailand’s election commission begins investigating the ruling Phue Thai Party

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s electoral commission will launch an investigation into the ruling Pheu Thai party that could lead to its dissolution, several local media reported on Friday.

The election commission has set up a committee to investigate complaints against the party alleging that it allowed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to influence or direct party activities, media reported, citing unidentified sources.

The investigation into Pheu Thai comes months after Move Forward – the country’s former main opposition party that won last year’s election – was dissolved by court order in August following an investigation by the electoral commission.

Thaksin returned to Thailand last year in a dramatic homecoming after 15 years in self-exile, on the same day his political ally Srettha Thavisin became prime minister.

In August, Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, became prime minister after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha from office.

Under Thai law, parties cannot be influenced by outsiders. If the investigation finds misconduct, the complaint will be referred to the Constitutional Court for review.

Sawang Boonmee, the general secretary of the Election Commission, did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

In a long-running power struggle with rivals in the conservative establishment and the royalist military, the Pheu Thai Party and its predecessors have deposed five prime ministers – including Thaksin and his sister Yingluck – through court orders or coups.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by Kim Coghill)