Election ‘11 months away’

The Nation

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

BUT WISSANU DOES NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF POLL BEING HELD EVEN EARLIER

 

THE NEXT election will take place about 11 months from now, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said yesterday after the Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled the organic bill on the election of MPs as constitutional.

 

The deputy PM assured that voting would not be delayed any further and even holding the election earlier was possible.

 

His statement came after the Constitutional Court on Wednesday delivered a verdict on the controversial organic bill governing the Lower House, saying it was in line with the Constitution.

 

The bills, alongside three other key organic laws – governing the Upper House, the Election Commission, and the political parties – are indispensable for holding an election.

 

Currently, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) was expecting an official verdict from the court, he said. After that, it would submit the bill to the government, Wissanu said, adding the government could present it for royal endorsement later this month.

 

“Although the political parties law was still in the court and a ruling would not come until next Wednesday, the road map would not be affected,” Wissanu said .

 

In response to concerns about when the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would lift the ban on political assembly and allow parties to convene, Wissanu said that should happen when the election starts to take shape. The ban would anyway be lifted 150 days before the election, he said.

 

According to a junta order issued late last year to complement the political parties law, the NCPO could hold a meeting allowing parties as well as the EC to discuss the election. But some parties have expressed reluctance to join the talks.

 

Wissanu said that all parties should come so they could have discussions with the EC, which would be responsible for setting the election date. They should not complain later if the EC chooses a date they do not agree with, he said.

 

Key Pheu Thai Party member Chusak Sirinin said the party was firm in its decision to boycott the talks. Chusak had said earlier that the junta did not have the legitimacy to hold such talks, especially when it had plans to come back after the election.

 

EC president Supachai Somcharoen also said yesterday that the election could be brought forward.

 

The Constitution stipulates that the agency must organise an election within 150 days of the four organic laws coming into effect. Supachai said the EC need not necessarily use all the 150 days allowed by the Constitution.

 

The EC is already preparing to hold an election, he said, adding regulations and guidelines necessary for the poll were being drafted.

 

“The EC’s regulations on the election of MPs and the Senate are now 90 per cent complete. They should be complete in a month,” Supachai said.

 

Apart from that, the agency had also prepared 12 guidelines for officials to abide by in the elections, he said. 

 

The bill governing the Lower House’s clause on assistance for disabled people in polling centres was controversial, but the EC guidelines would lay out how |officials should provide help while also maintaining confidentiality of voting in line with the Constitution, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346722

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-01

So...April-May,2019-anyone taking bets on that?

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

The EC is already preparing to hold an election, he said, adding regulations and guidelines necessary for the poll were being drafted.

 

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

Apart from that, the agency had also prepared 12 guidelines for officials to abide by in the elections, he said

 

Looking and reading above, it seems like they have never done an election before.

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ban would anyway be lifted 150 days before the election, he said.

 

Here we go... So the "other parties" will have 5 months in which to fully prepare and campaign for an election, as opposed to the Junta who started their campaign last year.

But the EC doesn't have to use the full 150 days, so technically, if all their ducks are in a row, they could hold an election after 3 months of lifting the ban !!!

 

What's wrong with all these other politicians ?? Can they not see, or possibly even feel, that they are blatantly being shafted ??

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The deputy PM assured that voting would not be delayed any further

with the credibility of the other govt-sponsored head liars dented, it is this guy's turn; while seemingly the most intelligent of the bunch, doesn't mean his 'assurances' mean squat

So...April-May,2019-anyone taking bets on that?

I thought it was February 2019, pushed back another 3 months.

Out of control this lot.

This is a total farce.

 

And some people still can't see it. All those naive optimists who really, sincerely, trustingly believe that we are going to have an 'election' in February.

For Goodness' sake: see the writing on the wall.

 

THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER DELAY!

 

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ELECTION NEXT FEBRUARY!!

 

36 minutes ago, Wilsonandson said:

I thought it was February 2019, pushed back another 3 months.

Recent announcements have mentioned "early 2019" so latest bets on for the end of May. 

I am truly at a loss to understand these people.

 

These 'pronouncements' do nothing but hurt their own cause.

 

If there isn't going to be an election anytime soon, better for them simply to say so; there will be a price to be paid but from their perspective it is probably better paid earlier rather than later. Alternatively, if there is going to be an election early next year, these vague, undefined suggestions of times simply roil opponents and undercut the limited credibility of a Junta already lacking credibility.

 

Are there not political people in the Junta who understand this? Why are they not being listened to?

 

This is political self-harm for no logical reason.

 

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Here we go... So the "other parties" will have 5 months in which to fully prepare and campaign for an election, as opposed to the Junta who started their campaign last year.

But the EC doesn't have to use the full 150 days, so technically, if all their ducks are in a row, they could hold an election after 3 months of lifting the ban !!!

 

What's wrong with all these other politicians ?? Can they not see, or possibly even feel, that they are blatantly being shafted ??

 

That question can be answered by asking what nationality they are.

2 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I am truly at a loss to understand these people.

 

These 'pronouncements' do nothing but hurt their own cause.

 

If there isn't going to be an election anytime soon, better for them simply to say so; there will be a price to be paid but from their perspective it is probably better paid earlier rather than later. Alternatively, if there is going to be an election early next year, these vague, undefined suggestions of times simply roil opponents and undercut the limited credibility of a Junta already lacking credibility.

 

Are there not political people in the Junta who understand this? Why are they not being listened to?

 

This is political self-harm for no logical reason.

 

Remember what I said yesterday, Samui: it is a mistake to think that the junta are rational!

2 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I am truly at a loss to understand these people.

 

These 'pronouncements' do nothing but hurt their own cause.

 

If there isn't going to be an election anytime soon, better for them simply to say so; there will be a price to be paid but from their perspective it is probably better paid earlier rather than later. Alternatively, if there is going to be an election early next year, these vague, undefined suggestions of times simply roil opponents and undercut the limited credibility of a Junta already lacking credibility.

 

Are there not political people in the Junta who understand this? Why are they not being listened to?

 

This is political self-harm for no logical reason.

 

 

Taking the line of least resistance. The easiest way.Tomorrow's repercussions can be ignored until they arrive - tomorrow. It's the Thai way.

Other than the junta, can other parties legally campaign ?  A snap election or a contracted time for campaigning is going to favor the junta or other established parties.  The election will still be a joke. 

1 minute ago, Eligius said:

Remember what I said yesterday, Samui: it is a mistake to think that the junta are rational!

remember what I said yesterday as well, different agendas at play here. You can't assume it is any part of the Junta's agenda to actually have the elections it has promised. Turkeys do not vote for an early Xmas - as a rule.

Just now, Samui Bodoh said:

I am truly at a loss to understand these people.

 

These 'pronouncements' do nothing but hurt their own cause.

 

If there isn't going to be an election anytime soon, better for them simply to say so; there will be a price to be paid but from their perspective it is probably better paid earlier rather than later. Alternatively, if there is going to be an election early next year, these vague, undefined suggestions of times simply roil opponents and undercut the limited credibility of a Junta already lacking credibility.

 

Are there not political people in the Junta who understand this? Why are they not being listened to?

 

This is political self-harm for no logical reason.

 

Who says there isn't going to be an election apart from some dedicated Thai Visa posters?

There are 2 conditionals here:

First, the bill is presented to the King for royal endorsement.He has 90 days to consider the document. His Majesty could return it any time within those 90 days.

Second, as mentioned the election must be held within 150 days after the bills come into effect, but as Supachai said, they are 90% ready. The EC could decide the election date earlier.

 

Don't worry there will be an election, but only when there can be the one and only winner. We know who that will be. 

12 minutes ago, Siripon said:

Who says there isn't going to be an election apart from some dedicated Thai Visa posters?

There are 2 conditionals here:

First, the bill is presented to the King for royal endorsement.He has 90 days to consider the document. His Majesty could return it any time within those 90 days.

Second, as mentioned the election must be held within 150 days after the bills come into effect, but as Supachai said, they are 90% ready. The EC could decide the election date earlier.

 

I think few of us are saying there will NEVER be an 'election'. What we are saying is that there are going to be further delays - and that the February poll will not take place.

 

The junta will delay and delay for as long as possible (because they have the power and the power-addiction to wish to do so). Only when they can delay no longer, will they stage a completely bogus, farce of an 'election'.

 

This is an extremist bunch. They have shown again and again that they are quite willing to chuck mud into the eyes of the Thai people. They will go on doing so. There is as yet nowhere near enough violent public unrest for the junta to have a February 'election'. They will go on doing what they know best: lying, cheating, prevaricating, and oppressing - and making a complete mockery of the Thai people they claim to serve.

 

 

 

44 minutes ago, KiwiKiwi said:

 

Taking the line of least resistance. The easiest way.Tomorrow's repercussions can be ignored until they arrive - tomorrow. It's the Thai way.

And when tomorrow does arrive, spout some old ball locks and continue merrily kicking the can down the road.

2 hours ago, Get Real said:

 

 

Looking and reading above, it seems like they have never done an election before.

Well, not a rigged election. ?

Another delay! Seems that the generals need more time to organize the coup after the coup! 

They keep on moving the goal post Now its May Before it was February

The will find something else to move it even further down the road

1 hour ago, KiwiKiwi said:

 

Taking the line of least resistance. The easiest way.Tomorrow's repercussions can be ignored until they arrive - tomorrow. It's the Thai way.

 

I thought the Thai way was if you offer a Thai the choice of 100 bht today or 500 bht tomorrow, they will always take the 100 bht today. And then come back asking for the 500 bht the next day!

3 minutes ago, realenglish1 said:

They keep on moving the goal post Now its May Before it was February

The will find something else to move it even further down the road

Absolutely right, Realenglish1. They have a whole stack of small and large excuses ready up their sleeve to delay the 'election' yet further. They will play every one of those excuses  - believe me!

I want to see a Foreigner political party run in the election.  May it be possible if the foreigner has a Thai I.D. card and speaks fluent Thai? 

 

 

"THE NEXT election will take place about 11 months from now, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said"

 

Do you think the Deputy PM  cleared that with the actual PM?

3 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

Here we go... So the "other parties" will have 5 months in which to fully prepare and campaign for an election, as opposed to the Junta who started their campaign last year.

I very much doubt that. If there ever is an election under this junta, the preparations and campaign will have to be done 'in accordance with the law'. This means that in effect the non junta parties will be as good as bound, gagged and locked in a basement for the duration.

1 hour ago, Eligius said:

I think few of us are saying there will NEVER be an 'election'. What we are saying is that there are going to be further delays - and that the February poll will not take place.

 

The junta will delay and delay for as long as possible (because they have the power and the power-addiction to wish to do so). Only when they can delay no longer, will they stage a completely bogus, farce of an 'election'.

 

This is an extremist bunch. They have shown again and again that they are quite willing to chuck mud into the eyes of the Thai people. They will go on doing so. There is as yet nowhere near enough violent public unrest for the junta to have a February 'election'. They will go on doing what they know best: lying, cheating, prevaricating, and oppressing - and making a complete mockery of the Thai people they claim to serve.

 

 

 

They will find always a reason for a new delay!

Eleven months seem a nice, safe figure. But....the question still remains..."Eleven months from when?"