Thai PM now says election to be held no later than Feb 2019

[webfact]

Thai PM now says election to be held no later than Feb 2019

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures during a news conference after a weekly cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday that a general election he had promised to hold in November would take place "no later" than February 2019, the latest delay to anger critics of the government.

 

"Now I will answer clearly, an election will take place no later than February 2019," Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok.

 

The junta has promised and postponed elections several times since it came to power following a coup in 2014 that removed a civilian government.

 

The latest date was set for November but last month the military-appointed legislature changed the election law, signalling a further delay.

 

There have been growing, anti-junta protests in Bangkok calling for Prayuth to stick to his November time frame.

 

(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-27

[Thaiwrath]

[coulson]

Ain't stopping any protests with that same old tune....

 

[AGareth2]

must be telling the truth this time

[Eligius]

And his words are not worth the paper they are not written on!

[Stoker58]

As American snake oil salesmen always say, "......and you can take THAT to the bank!!!"

[Darcula]

February 2019? There are many important things / events to take care of before that. And, will the invasion of Gambia will be over by then as well?

[Eligius]

1 minute ago, Darcula said:

February 2019? There are many important things / events to take care of before that. And, will the invasion of Gambia will be over by then as well?

Yes, there could well be one or two massive state events - you know what they are - which could be used to delay things just at the moment before the 'election'. The junta will not let anything go to waste ...

[kolkolkol]

Guys please, he meant 31st Feb okay!

[Cadbury]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

".....an election will take place no later than February 2019"

He says with is hand on his hollow heart. What's another lie on top of all the others? And the nose gets longer.

Edited February 27, 2018 by Cadbury

[Captain_Bob]

[kolkolkol]

Just now, Cadbury said:

He says with is hand on his heart. What's another lie on top of all the others? And the nose gets longer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_30

[greenchair]

If it's not on paper,

it's smelly hot air.

For goodness sake, somebody get it in writing this time. ???

[PatOngo]

[Eric Loh]

The pressure group of activists must continue to press for the Nov 2018 election. They shouldn’t wavered on their demand for the sake of the vast majority of citizens who want election and not fall for this snake oil sales gimmick. 

[Ossy]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday that a general election he had promised to hold in November would take place "no later" than February 2019, the latest delay to anger critics of the government

This man is a danger to himself, so short is his memory of what lies pour out of his big mouth. And, within a month or so of denying that the November election promise - the one he made whilst sucking-up to trump - was a promise and his insisting that it was just a casual remark, as if that wasn't enough to insult our intelligence, he has the affront, now, to recall the casual remark as a promise, but it's a special promise . . . one that was OK for him to break and then to tweak slightly, so as to make it seem only a little sinful. To tweak by three months, in fact. Well, what's 3mths, if you write it small? Nothing really, in the grand scheme of things . . . Prayut's things, that is.

 

Prayut told reporters, earlier, and without a hint of guilt at the earlier breach of promise: " . . . now I will answer clearly, an election will take place no later than February, 2019." Question is, of course, is this just a casual remark? Well, at least it wasn't a promise so there's a cat in hell's chance that it may be honoured.

[InMyShadow]

The pressure group of activists must continue to press for the Nov 2018 election. They shouldn’t wavered on their demand for the sake of the vast majority of citizens who want election and not fall for this snake oil sales gimmick. 

Errm yeah the vast majority... All 200 of them [emoji23]

[Odysseus123]

My soothsayer informed me  of that after examining the entrails of a goat...or maybe it was a bifurcated liver..I forget..

That means that  I will have to give him another 200 Baht.

 

In contrast my local village wise woman said "Fat chance,buddy..

 

Whom to believe in such circumstances?

Edited February 27, 2018 by Odysseus123

[Just1Voice]

You do realize that this new date is only temporary and tentative, subject to be changed and/or be cancelled at any time, for any reason, real or justified.  

[kolkolkol]

2 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

You do realize that this new date is only temporary and tentative, subject to be changed and/or be cancelled at any time, for any reason, real or justified.  

It can be changed 10 times because Sabai always comes first.

[quandow]

[Lingba]

Todays joke of the day

[Thailand]

Smile and nod!  

Edited February 27, 2018 by Thailand

[Lingba]

does he really think people believe this crap

[nikmar]

And Prawit will still be trying to explain his <deleted> watches!

[DNPBC0]

He is simply honouring his 5th Core Value - "treasuring cherished Thai traditions" - the traditions of dishonesty and deceit.

[nikmar]

10 minutes ago, DNPBC0 said:

He is simply honouring his 5th Core Value - "treasuring cherished Thai traditions" - the traditions of dishonesty and deceit.

or the tradition of being late.   February at the latest....Thai time naa!

[Topdoc]

The PM is being honest

I am surprised so few here can see this!

 

[webfact]

PM promises national election by February 2019

By Wasamon Audjarint 
The Nation

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has made a new promise about the timing of the national election, pledging that it will be held by February next year, following the decision by legislators to delay enforcement of the organic MP election law.

 

“The election needs to be held by February 2019,” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday. 

 

“I also have no intention of not holding an election and staying [in power] longer,” he added.

 

The PM affirmed that a general election would be held within that timescale even though the entire recruitment process for the replacement of election commissioners needed to be rerun. 

 

“There must not be any vacancies to affect the election,” he stressed.

 

The premier’s promise of a general election by next February was the fourth time that the ruling junta had officially delayed the national poll since the originally designated timeline back in 2015.

 

However, there has been speculation of whether even holding an election by February 2019 is achievable since the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly last month decided to delay the MP election law’s enforcement by 90 days, effectively pushing back Prayut’s earlier promised period of November this year for the national poll.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30339820

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-2-28

[webfact]

Election postponed – again

By WASAMON AUDJARINT, 
KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

File photo : Prayut

 

ACTIVISTS RAGE AS PM PUSHES BACK DATE TO FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR

 

FACED WITH mounting pressure from critics and the international community, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said the next election would be held “no later than” next February.

 

While making his latest promise about the election date, however, Prayut also warned that it would also depend on the situation at the time. “I am not making any threats. Let’s see what happens when the ban on political activities is lifted,” he said.

 

He rejected speculation that his post-coup government was plotting to cause endless delays to the election to stay in power. Suspicions to that effect grew after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted to postpone enforcement of the MPs election bill for 90 days.

 

“Now I will give you a clear answer. The election will take place no later than February 2019,” the prime minister told Government House reporters during a press briefing.

 

He confirmed that an election would be held by then, even though all the election commissioners needed to be recruited again after the previous candidates were rejected. “There must not be any vacancies that affect the election,” he said.

 

It is the fourth time that the junta has officially delayed the election since its originally promised date in 2015.

 

Speculation about a February 2019 poll has arisen since the junta-appointed NLA last month decided to delay promulgation of the MPs law by 90 days from Prayut’s earlier promised date of November 2018.

 

Yesterday, however, was the first official confirmation of the election delay.

 

It also came despite increasing restlessness among pro-democracy activists, who do not buy into the NLA’s reasoning and want the election to be held this year without further postponement. 

 

Prayut’s promise of a November 2018 election was also partly why the European Union agreed to resume political contacts with the government at all levels.

 

Critics were yesterday not convinced by Prayut’s latest comments about the new election date.

 

Activist Siriwith Seritiwat, a core leader of the pro-election movement, slammed Prayut for being inconsistent in his promises. 

 

“His words are no longer credible because he always changes,” the activist said. “This is no different from when he said the election would happen in November 2018. It is just untrustworthy. He is just trying to reduce the pressure on the government right now.”

 

Siriwith said the pro-election movement was maintaining its stance that the election must be held this year and he promised it would continue demonstrating until its demand was met.

 

Yesterday, Prayut also said the “five rivers of power”, a term describing five junta-appointed bodies, should be able to meet after March to resolve outstanding issues related to the election date.

 

March is also when the two remaining organic laws, the MPs election bill and the Senate selection bill, are expected to be finished by the NLA before being forwarded to the prime minister and then submitted for royal endorsement.

 

The palace will then take up to 90 days, or by June, before the laws will be announced in the Royal Gazette, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam’s advice to the Cabinet.

 

As quoted by Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Wissanu said that since the MPs election bill would take another 90 days to become effective, the law should be promulgated in September.

 

The MPs election bill will be the last of four organic laws essential to hold the election. Once it is in effect, the election will be organised within 150 days from when the all four laws are ready in September.

 

Wissanu concluded that the election should consequently be held between next September and February.

 

“But how soon the election will be held will depend on our readiness and the situation by then,” Sansern said. “The National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] hopes we can follow the road map.”

 

Prayut also said yesterday authorities would continue to “monitor” the country’s situation during the 150-day period.

 

“There should be no instigation once the political ban is lifted,” Prayut said. “But this doesn’t mean that the election will not be held. The [election-related] laws should not be rejected either.”

 

While the political ban was still in place, Prayut said, a junta order issued in December would allow new parties to choose their party names and hold meetings to prepare for new electoral regulations.

 

But the moves needed to be permitted by the NCPO on a case-by-case basis, the premier said.

 

The same order would also require existing parties to compile a database of existing members starting on April 1, but they would still be unable to hold meetings, he added.

 

Meanwhile, veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday dismissed media reports that he was preparing to set up a new political party in support of Prayut returning as prime minister after the next election.

 

“I have no plans to return to politics or join any future government. Definitely I don’t want to be a politician or contest any election again,” he said.

 

Prayut, who also heads the ruling junta NCPO, was also asked by Government House reporters yesterday to comment on reports that new parties were being planned to back his return to power.

 

“I would like to thank all of those people who support me to become part of a new government,” the prime minister said.

 

In a related development, Election Commission (EC) president Supachai Somcharoen maintained yesterday that the agency could still function even though one of its five members was about to retire and the number of commissioners would be reduced to four. If the number were reduced to three, however, the commission would be unable to make decisions on big issues, he added. 

 

Supachai was apparently referring to the resignation of EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, which is possible if his application to become the agency’s secretary-general is successful.

 

The EC chief, however, said there must be a solution to the problem, such as a junta order to extend the incumbency of the retiring member.

 

Meanwhile, Council of State secretary-general Distat Hotrakitya said it was working on six local election laws that could take at least one month to complete. He said the EC would submit opinions on the bills today and the council would have to revise them accordingly.

 

However, the council had received an order from Wissanu to expedite the work so that local elections could be held soon, Distat said. Local elections are expected to take place this year.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30339817

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-28