Yingluck approved by vote body

Thailand's prime minister-in-waiting Yingluck Shinawatra was yesterday approved to enter parliament, election officials said, paving the way for her to become the country's first female premier.
Yingluck, the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, was given the go-ahead by Thailand's Election Commission (EC), after it delayed ratifying her over campaign irregularity claims last week.
The vote body dismissed the allegations against Yingluck, whose Puea Thai Party won a thumping majority at the July 3 election.
"The committee has investigated the facts and cannot find any violations of electoral law," EC secretary-general Suthipon Thaveechaiyagarn told reporters after a commission meeting.
Outgoing premier Abhisit Vejjajiva was also among the 12 parliamentary candidates endorsed yesterday to become members of the 500-seat lower house.
Although 370 candidates have now been approved by the EC, another 105 must be ratified for parliament to convene, as required, within 30 days of the election.
The vote body's delayed endorsement had raised questions over her appointment and fears of fresh instability in the politically divided country.
In the most extreme scenario, the electoral commission can issue a "red card" to a candidate, which would mean a one-year ban from politics.
Any move to disqualify Yingluck would have risked further ruptures in Thailand's already fractured political landscape and enraged the opposition "Red Shirt" protest movement, whose rallies in Bangkok last year turned deadly.