eFM News

Dozens of lawmakers will stand trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act while campaigning for the parliamentary elections held on April 15.

The Supreme Prosecutors Office on Monday said it initially booked 149 sitting lawmakers before bringing formal charges against 27 of them before the statute of limitations expired last week.

Eleven lawmakers are from the main opposition People Power Party, nine from the ruling Democratic Party and seven are representatives of the progressive minor Justice Party.

Compared with the previous elections in 2016, there were six fewer indictments, which prosecutors attributed to less in-person campaigns and rallies because of COVID-19.

The main opposition party controls 103 out of 300 parliamentary seats, and is now at risk of slipping below the 100-seat threshold needed to retain its power to veto a possible attempt to amend the Constitution.

According to prosecutors, 2,874 people were booked for breaching election law this year -- 36 were placed under arrest while another 1,154 were formally indicted and will stand trial.

The prosecution said it plans to broaden its investigation into violations of the Political Funds Act and other related laws that have no statute of limitations.