Another plot to delay poll?

By POLITICAL DESK 
THE NATION

 

 

THE LEGISLATIVE assembly’s unexpected and unprecedented rejection of all seven candidates nominated as new Election Commission members could be yet another excuse for an election delay, although government figures have dismissed the possibility.

 

Observers and critics have suspected that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) got “some instruction” when it voted on Thursday not to endorse any of the nominations suggested by the selection committee, that also includes the assembly’s president, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai.

 

However, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday denied the ruling junta had ordered the NLA to reject all the candidates.

He said the assembly members made the decision entirely on their own and the people in power had nothing to do with the outcome.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that he did not think the NLA vote would impact the road map to election. 

 

 

Thursday’s move by the NLA is the latest in a series of developments that have aroused suspicion of repeated attempts to delay the next election.

Prominent banker Banyong Pongpanich, once a member of a government-appointed committee, has implied that NLA members thought people were stupid enough to believe that lawmakers acted independently.

 

“I wonder if we are being ruled by undisciplined people,” he said in his Facebook message yesterday.

 

The European Union again has expressed concern of a possible election delay after the NLA vote on Thursday. The EU ambassador to Thailand, Pirkka Tapiola, raised the matter when he met Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong yesterday.

 

New process could take six months

 

After the military coup in May 2014, the junta set a loose “road map for the return to democracy” that contains timeframes for what has to be done before the next election is held.

 

The people in power and the organs responsible for key duties, such as issuing laws necessary for holding an election, often opted for the maximum timeframe although they could complete the task with less time. 

 

Sometimes they even added more time to the original timeframe. For instance, the NLA in January voted to postpone enforcement of the election law for 90 days, arguing that political parties need more time to complete tasks required under the Political Parties Act.

 

However, politicians maintained that the move was aimed at delaying the next election and allowing the junta more time to stay in power.

 

With postponement of the election law’s enforcement, the election is now expected to be held in February or March next year, rather than this November, as originally promised by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

And now that the NLA has rejected all EC candidates, there is concern that the election could be delayed even further.

 

The process of selecting a new set of candidates and appointing new EC members could take up to six more months. 

 

A new selection committee may need to be appointed, although Pornpetch, a panel member himself, said the old committee could still do the job. However, the old panel’s legitimacy may be questioned after all its nominations were rejected.

 

Also, it could be more difficult to find qualified applicants to meet stringent qualities set by the Constitution. And many likely applicants might be too discouraged to apply for fear that they could be rejected and have their reputation damaged.

 

Even after new election commissioners are appointed, they will need time to familiarise themselves with the new tasks and may require an extended timeframe to prepare for the next election. 

 

According to the Constitution and the Election Commission Act, the current EC members are authorised to hold elections although their term has not been extended. 

 

The laws allow them to assume a caretaker function as long as new election commissioners are unavailable. But there has been concern that their legitimacy may be questioned and petitions could be filed with the Constitutional Court to rule on the powers of election commissioners with only caretaker authority.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30339566

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-24

You never know. There might be someone out there who believes the Governments story.

16 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Prominent banker Banyong Pongpanich, once a member of a government-appointed committee, has implied that NLA members thought people were stupid enough to believe that lawmakers acted independently.

Well said.

 

There is a remarkable arrogance to this government, and that arrogance shows most clearly when they treat the people as idiots.

 

However, I am not too bothered by this. I do not believe that the government has gained any support since the Funeral and Coronation, nor do I believe that they will; the government's popularity will only move in one direction, down. When the government pulls these intelligence-insulting moves, the contempt grows and the chances of them continuing in power legitimately diminishes.

 

Each day that they cling to power through illegitimate means means greater odds that they get tossed out on their asses later. Looking forward to seeing them bounce out the door.

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The people in power and the organs responsible for key duties, such as issuing laws necessary for holding an election, often opted for the maximum timeframe although they could complete the task with less time. 

of course, they all have their own personal axes to grind; cushy , high-paying jobs where they likely 'employ' relatives,friends,neighbors; keep the gravy train going

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Prominent banker Banyong Pongpanich, once a member of a government-appointed committee, has implied that NLA members thought people were stupid enough to believe that lawmakers acted independently.

the majority of thais, the unthinkers , well, do not really count;

the thinking segment seem to have accepted the Fact that thai politicians are a group that:

--are hoped-for improvements

--are voted in

--underperform and leave a string of unfulfilled promises and generally disappoint

-- and all that is the norm

poor governance is accepted here

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The European Union again has expressed concern of a possible election delay after the NLA vote on Thursday. The EU ambassador to Thailand, Pirkka Tapiola, raised the matter when he met Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong yesterday.

No condemnation, no warning of sanctioning, no nothing.

Now either the EU are guilty of rank stupidity or else they care nothing about human rights and democracy. Whichever, they have proven to be absolutely useless when it comes to Thailand, despite their professed lofty ideals. Thanks for nothing.

There's no plot to delay a poll, because there is no poll planned. Those are just lies. Why would the "government" risk giving up their powers and positions? They won't.

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I do not believe that the government has gained any support since the Funeral and Coronation ...

 

You are so right, Samui. But note that the Coronation has still not yet happened. When it does happen (nobody knows yet when), it will inevitably delay things - but this is of course in a very, very good cause (the best cause ever imaginable) and everyone will be delighted about it ...

 

 

And the news is???

I bet 25 watches to one it will delay the election

Fickle nation. Lack of Critical thinking...

 

Would the current unelected dictator puppeteer and his fat cat high-so puppets, return to their previous positions? 

 

TIME will tell!!!!

 

LOL 555

 

 

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

With postponement of the election law’s enforcement, the election is now expected to be held in February

No, it won't be held in February.

Otherwise why would the Junta just now filed charges against six protesters that rallied outside of Chiang Mai University calling for elections on February 14.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1026371-six-cmu-pro-election-protest-leaders-charged-by-junta/?utm_source=newsletter-20180224-0751&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

And frankly if February is out, March doesn't add any significantly more time for election preparations by the NLA, EC and any pro-military party. At best May 2018 would be the next election date.

 

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Another plot to delay poll?

You don't say!

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

No, it won't be held in February.

Otherwise why would the Junta just now filed charges against six protesters that rallied outside of Chiang Mai University calling for elections on February 14.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1026371-six-cmu-pro-election-protest-leaders-charged-by-junta/?utm_source=newsletter-20180224-0751&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

And frankly if February is out, March doesn't add any significantly more time for election preparations by the NLA, EC and any pro-military party. At best May 2018 would be the next election date.

 

It is quite possible that a great Coronation - which I am sure we all look forward to most avidly and will all be cheering on  - will take place in or after May of next year, so that will (most fittingly - of course) delay things. Then there is the future demise of a certain Lady that would delay things for many months and prohibit all discussion of politics for a very, very lengthy period of time.

 

The reasons (real or concocted) that can be presented for delaying the bogus 'election' are infinite in number - when you hold all the guns, all the bombs, all the tanks, all the power ...

 

 

 

30 minutes ago, Eligius said:

. . . . . for delaying the bogus 'election' are infinite in number - when you hold all the guns, all the bombs, all the tanks, all the power ...

It's not the election that's bogus. If conducted in a timely and ordered fashion, it could be Thailand's saviour. We all know who and what the 'bogus' elements are . . . 'all the guns, all the bombs, all the tanks,' and all the half-wit soldiers who are getting to enjoy, far too much I fear, playing at being politicians. Talking of 'playing', I would like to know the grounds for NLA's rejection of each of those 7 election commission nominees. If there was no delay-game-playing, there, then I'll plait sawdust.

2 minutes ago, Ossy said:

It's not the election that's bogus. If conducted in a timely and ordered fashion, it could be Thailand's saviour. We all know who and what the 'bogus' elements are . . . 'all the guns, all the bombs, all the tanks,' and all the half-wit soldiers who are getting to enjoy, far too much I fear, playing at being politicians. Talking of 'playing', I would like to know the grounds for refusal for each of those 7 election commission nominees. If there was no delay-game-playing, there, then I'll plait sawdust.

You make good points, Ossy. I would say, though, that the 'election' is bogus because the junta (through their Constitution) have so stitched up everything in their favour (through stacking the Senate with militarists) that the result of the 'election' will still leave the real power in the military's hands. So in that sense the 'election' is fake - as it will not be truly free and fair in the outcome that it offers.

Delay, delay, deny, deny, woo hoo, my my

Geezer