Coronation to take place before poll: PM Prayut

By THE NATION

File Photo

 

SURPRISE STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER THROWS FURTHER DOUBT ON POLL DATE

 

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday linked the coronation with the date for the next election, saying the junta needed to prepare for the important royal ceremony before calling the long-awaited poll.

 

While it is has been widely accepted that the general election would take place no sooner than February next year, the date for the coronation has not been announced.

 

The prime minister broke with tradition in linking the royal ceremony with a political event.

 

Prayut’s surprise remark came amid growing pressure on the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to call an election after several delays caused by legislative complications.

 

After the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Prayut brought up the coronation out of the blue.

 

“Everyone must not forget about the most important thing. Today, the NCPO gives importance to the preparation of the coronation. Every Thai must not forget. This is important,” he said.

 

“Don’t say I’m making an excuse. For this, I need the country to be peaceful and stable. It also impacts investments, too. The election will also go on according to democracy. I don’t think these go in contrast.”

 

His unprompted comments led reporters to ask if the election would be held before or after the coronation. He responded that the election would definitely take place after the coronation.

 

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne on December 2016, but the date of his coronation has not yet determined.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that the determination of the coronation day depended solely on royal judgement.

 

“I cannot talk about this [the coronation] since the Cabinet did not discuss the matter [yesterday]. I heard the prime minister talked about it. He might know, but I don’t know,” Wissanu told reporters.

 

The election has been anticipated since soon after the coup took place in 2014. Prayut initially said the election would take place the following year but the schedule has shifted thanks to a lengthy process of legislation and the writing of the Constitution.

 

Prayut has talked about the election almost every time he has met with foreign leaders. He told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early 2015 that the election would be held within a year. He told then chief of United Nations Ban Ki-moon in late 2015 that the poll in Thailand would take place in the middle of 2017. He said during his visit to Washington late last year that the election would be held in late 2018.

 

Human rights defenders and activists urged British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron – who Prayut is scheduled to meet today and next Monday respectively – to pressure the PM for a rapid transition to a civilian government.

 

The two European leaders might mention democratisation in Thailand but pressuring the junta chief may be difficult as the European Union softened its stance toward the military government late last year, resuming political contact at all levels with Thailand, diplomatic sources said.

 

 The road map to democracy, according to the Constitution, says that the election must take place 150 days after the organic laws crucial for the vote come into effect. However, the bills have suffered several legislative hiccups such as committee revisions and a constitutional review. Consequently, the election has been delayed indefinitely.

 

The powers-that-be have reiterated that voting would be held in February next year. But critics have questioned that promise, given the current situation in which a ban on politics remains strictly in place and the organic bills on the Senate and MPs election are still pending royal endorsement.

 

The junta indicated it was preparing for the election as Prayut assigned his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan to call a meeting with political parties to clear the way for the poll. Wissanu said the meeting would take place soon.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30348134

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-20

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If Mr P had his way, the Golden Jubilee would come before the next election !

Surprise surprise another stalling this individual apparently has no remorse who he lies to ! Thai people wake up !

unable to COMMENT ....says  it  all  about  a country

Well played by Prayut is all I can say. What will be next? 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Every Thai must not forget.

like theres any  choice

I would love to have an election next year, but unfortunately I have to wash my hair.

2 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

I would love to have an election next year, but unfortunately I have to wash my hair.

me too  even though i  have none?

Prayut says election to be held after Coronation ceremony

By Thai PBS

 

 

The government is making preparations for the Coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the election will be held after the completion of this important ceremony, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday.

 

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, the prime minister stressed that the Coronation ceremony is an important event for the Thai people and he didn’t want some people to accuse him of using the event as an excuse to delay the election which, he said, would proceed in accordance with democratic path.

 

The prime minister is due to leave for visits of England and France during June 20-25 during which he will make clarifications about the election roadmap.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prayut-says-election-held-coronation-ceremony/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-06-20

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Coronation ceremony is an important event for the Thai people

Still no  choice

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

and the election will be held after the completion of this important ceremony,

this bloated government cannot do two things at the same time ?!

Like I said before; in the year 2525. We have a song for that one!

You know what you want to say but you can't.

34 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

this bloated government cannot do two things at the same time ?!

Some may beg to differ. It can steal and stall simultaneously.

This news confirms what I (and others) have been saying repeatedly for months.

 

And then there will be a sad national event:

delay and political gagging, in consequence, for at least a full six months after that.

 

This lot are so predictable ...

28 Jun 2014 - Prayut says elections by Oct 2015

09 Feb 2015 - Prayut says elections by Feb 2016

09 Aug 2016 - Prayut says elections by Nov 2017

10 Oct 2017 - Prayut says elections by Nov 2018

27 Feb 2018 - Prayut says elections by Feb 2019

19 Jun 2018 - Prayut says..................

The man's ego and self-conceit is such he would consider recognition of his birthday as good enough reason to delay the election. 

I am beginning to believe that as the PM's popularity drops the less likelihood there will be of an election. When it gets to zero all bets for an election are off.

This ill-equipped and unqualified junta with a totally corrupt civil service will just continue blindly on into uncharted waters until they finally send the country broke with their wasteful extravagances.

 

1 hour ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

What the coup was all about all along. 

Albeit perhaps in a rather -umh- nuanced way?

extract:

...The prime minister is due to leave for visits of England and France during June 20-25 during which he will make clarifications about the election roadmap...

 

assume MrP gone to UK/Europe, to personally police (bid) for his 'recalcitrant' foes extraditions? 

After years of living here, this is my private take on the Thai army. Generally speaking.

 

These guys have been around for centuries, but did not really organize themselves until 1874. Supposedly, they did this because of the Bowring Treaty, which was a trade agreement between the Brits and the Thais. The Thai business community thought they were getting the short end of the stick and decided an official Thai army was needed.

 

Basically, their main job was to protect Thailand so that shop owners could put more money in their pockets. Naturally, the army also needed to be paid. Throughout the years there have been the occasional skirmishes between the upper society and the men in green. Mostly about sharing.

 

Thailand has 1000s of generals. Why? It is because Thailand promotes classes of soldiers instead of individuals. Instead of one deserving person being advanced to general, the entire class is promoted to general with all the power it entails. Some classes get along better than others and some new graduates do not like older graduates. Thailand has had many great generals, but not everybody can be a good leader.

 

In the last century, Thailand has progressed economically as a country. Now in 2018, many big local and international businesses’ are flourishing.  And, the Thai army is still doing what it was asked to do back in 1874.

 

Personally, I don’t see any major changes for years to come. And as my writing shows, I was a sergeant...

Every time I see these stories I keep hearing Stakka bo in my head "Here we go again, here we go , go , go , Here we go, go go again"

His majesty has the ability to solve this problem by calling for the coronation to be in December that gives the government 2 months for the reelection campaign

2 hours ago, webfact said:

he didn’t want some people to accuse him of using the event as an excuse to delay the election

Well - you're the one setting the conditional! Of course we can say you're using it as an excuse.

 

This reminds me of how he banned people from registering for political parties(?), and then said that parties must submit their membership list or they won't be able to compete. When the parties brought up the fact that there was a ban on registrations - he simply said that we must all follow the law and it wasn't his fault.??

2 hours ago, Carib said:

Well played by Prayut is all I can say. What will be next? 

Just a guess...

 

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

You know what you want to say but you can't.

You can: 'One has nothing whatsoever to do with the other'. This is merely the excuse to postpone the election we most of us saw coming.

If the coronation is not to be held in February 2019 then there is no reason to delay an election.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Coronation to take place before poll: PM Prayut

...done. Next...

As the Thai 'big wigs' are in Europe for a few days perhaps a side-trip to visit "Bayern Monarch" would be able to provide a suitable date for the coronation.

2 hours ago, missoura said:

After years of living here, this is my private take on the Thai army. Generally speaking.

 

These guys have been around for centuries, but did not really organize themselves until 1874. Supposedly, they did this because of the Bowring Treaty, which was a trade agreement between the Brits and the Thais. The Thai business community thought they were getting the short end of the stick and decided an official Thai army was needed.

 

Basically, their main job was to protect Thailand so that shop owners could put more money in their pockets. Naturally, the army also needed to be paid. Throughout the years there have been the occasional skirmishes between the upper society and the men in green. Mostly about sharing.

 

Thailand has 1000s of generals. Why? It is because Thailand promotes classes of soldiers instead of individuals. Instead of one deserving person being advanced to general, the entire class is promoted to general with all the power it entails. Some classes get along better than others and some new graduates do not like older graduates. Thailand has had many great generals, but not everybody can be a good leader.

 

In the last century, Thailand has progressed economically as a country. Now in 2018, many big local and international businesses’ are flourishing.  And, the Thai army is still doing what it was asked to do back in 1874.

 

Personally, I don’t see any major changes for years to come. And as my writing shows, I was a sergeant...

and do  you  think thats a  good  or  bad thing?

Well, this has been predicted by several members of this forum, so no surprise really. This doesn't mean the elections will be delayed for sure, but the continuing obfuscation by Prayuth on the timing of the elections and continuous shifting of goalposts, makes it more than likely.