EC to brief parties on law changes before political activities begin

By Kas Chanwanpen 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

THE ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) will hold a seminar to clarify new rules and regulations for political parties on Wednesday – three days before parties can kick-start activities by sorting out their membership rosters according to the junta’s road map.

 

As of Thursday, 52 parties represented by nearly 300 members – including the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties – have already accepted the invitation to the join the seminar, according to the EC.

 

Because the organic law governing political parties has laid out new rules and requirements, the EC will hold the seminar to prepare political parties for the change. It will also give them initial guidelines on how to make relevant arrangements to ensure their eligibility to run in the upcoming election, said EC acting secretary- general Jarungwit Phumma.

 

The event, taking place at Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, will include a briefing by EC deputy secretary-general Sawang Boonmee on the principles laid out not only in the political party organic law but also the junta order issued in December about what activities parties were allowed to do while the ban on political gathering remained in place.

 

The activities that existing political parties can begin from April 1 include updating their membership rosters and collecting membership fees.

 

The seminar will also include a lecture by political scientist Anek Laothamatas on the topic “Political Parties and National Reform” and a Q&A session where politicians could find answers regarding political party activities, the election budget, and primary voting.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30341667

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-25

5 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

It will also give them initial guidelines on how to make relevant arrangements to ensure their eligibility to run in the upcoming election, said EC acting secretary- general Jarungwit Phumma.

primary eligibility is the party name Not containing words such as 'Pheu Thai'

1 minute ago, YetAnother said:

primary eligibility is the party name Not containing words such as 'Pheu Thai'

 

Why ?

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

not only in the political party organic law but also the junta order issued in December about what activities parties were allowed to do while the ban on political gathering remained in place.

Free and fair elections according to laws drafted by a military junta.....

Lord have mercy.....The dinosaurs are having a field day.....

I hope the EC covers laws yet to be made that will apply retroactively and NCPO potential Orders needed to provide maximum advantage to pro-military parties.

Of course it's a bit ironic that the EC will be holding a seminar to clarify new rules and regulations for political parties when its own members violate the 2017 Constitution by their continued membership. The NLA waivered the Constitutional provision terminating EC members upon the end of their term, essentially amending the constitution in violation of the constitution.

Might a party argue that as the current EC is unconstitutional, it has no authority to monitor parties for compliance to new rules and regulations nor impose any sanctions as punishment?