Tentative dates set for next general elections

By The Nation

 

Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong.

 

Elections will be held on February 24 at the earliest and by May 5 at the latest, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said on Sunday.

 

The tentative dates were set as per the government’s road map, and after discussions were held with political parties and concerned agencies in June this year, Ittiporn clarified.

 

“We are ready to hold an election, no matter whether [it is held] sooner or later,” the new EC chairman said.

 

The current charter stipulates that an election must be held within 150 days after the law concerning the election of MPs comes into effect.

 

The MP election bill was submitted for royal endorsement on June 15, and once it is announced in the Royal Gazette, it will take another 90 days to go into effect. An election will have to be held within 150 days after that. 

 

Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan, a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said the council had not found anything of concern or any security threats that might delay the election. 

 

He said the NCPO still closely watched the movements of all political groups and parties, and has learned that everything is being done within the line of law and nothing has affected national security. 

 

The NCPO will continue maintaining peace and order in the country, so elections can be held as per normal, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30352489

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-20

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

The tentative dates were set as per the government’s road map

All over the place !

While I will be happy to see an election called, the question is under what rules? Will there be free discussion or will it be the hideous monstrosity that was the Charter referendum?

 

Will politicians be able to criticize the NCPO?

Will there be campaign rallies? Under what specific circumstances?

Will there be street rallies?

Will there be a 'caretaker' PM?

Will the Junta try to ban the PTP?

Will the military keep its nose out of things?

Will the Bureaucracy be allowed to be neutral?

???????????????????????

 

There are numerous questions that need to be answered before any sort of celebration can be held.

 

And, as the 'Devil is in the details' combined with the past performance of the Junta, I wouldn't be celebrating just yet. There still remains the very real idea that perhaps it is better to boycott rather than participate in an unfair process and give undeserved legitimacy to the Junta.

 

 

Edited August 19, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

Elections will be held on February 24 at the earliest and by May 5 at the latest, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said on Sunday.

Mmmmmm....OK! We believe You!

1 minute ago, Samui Bodoh said:

While I will be happy to see an election called, the question is under what rules? Will there be free discussion or will it be the hideous monstrosity that was the Charter referendum?

 

Will politicians be able to criticize the NCPO?

Will there be campaign rallies? Under what specific circumstances?

Will there be street rallies?

Will there be a 'caretaker' PM?

???????????????????????

 

There are numerous questions that need to be answered before any sort of celebration can be held.

 

And, as the 'Devil is in the details' combined with the past performance of the Junta, I wouldn't be celebrating just yet. There still remains the very real idea that perhaps it is better to boycott rather than participate in an unfair process and give undeserved legitimacy to the Junta.

 

Don´t worry! Here is your answers. 

A :  No! Are you serious? What a ridiculous question. Time to read about North Korea.
B :  Yes! Under the specific circumstances that they are not visible to the general public.

C :  You Bet!
D :  Of course it will be. A PM is supposed to take care of the country and it´s citizens.

So, know when you know so much more. Rest asure, It´s just to bring out the beer and the popcorn. It´s gonna´be the party of the decade! 

A rigged election is still an election but a pointless excercise in terms of free and fair.

NCPO has final say on election day: EC secretary-general

 

 

Election Commission secretary-general Charoongwit Poomma clarified on Sunday that the earliest election day on February 24 floated by the EC chairman was just a “model” as the final say would rest with the National Council for Peace and Order.

 

He said EC chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong set the February 24 timeline as the earliest election date to be used as a basis for the working framework of election officials by taking into account the Members of Parliament election bill which is expected to be published in the Royal Gazette in mid-September so as it will come into effect in mid-December.

 

After that, there will be a 150-day period within which an election must be held as mandated by the Constitution.  The 150-day period will end on May 11.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ncpo-has-final-say-on-election-day-ec-secretary-general/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-08-20

Soooooooo...

 

The Election Commission's Chairman has no say on elections.

 

Welcome to Thailand 2018, twinned with Crazyville 

 

 

Edited August 19, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

obstacles will be manufactured ; thais may already be cowed into the never-going-to-be-held mentality

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan, a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said the council had not found anything of concern or any security threats that might delay the election. 

 

That is the only paragraph that means anything.

In other words it is not going to happen then. why should it ?as the military protected gravy train has a long way to run yet before they bankrupt the country for their own personal gains.

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

"......the final say would rest with the National Council for Peace and Order".

And who would the Leader of the NCPO be? None other than Prayut Chan-o-cha. Ably supported by the Chairman of the Board of Consultants Prawit "Watches" Wongsuwan.

So the final say could be anyone's guess; if indeed there is a final say.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Elections will be held on February 24 at the earliest and by May 5 at the latest, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said on Sunday.

I note that no year is mentioned.

 

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

I note that no year is mentioned.

 

Well spotted!

But if they happen to nominate 29th February it would mean it would be held in the year 2020.

That would provide the PM an extra 12 months electioneering while the other Parties are required by law  to sit around doing nothing. 

Life in Thailand is full of unexpected and tricky junta surprises.

2 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Life in Thailand is full of unexpected and tricky junta surprises.

The NCPO being tricky is never a surprise.

The dates have been tentative four years already. 

I thought the original Government road-map was for last year? 

Great news who won??

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

While I will be happy to see an election called, the question is under what rules?

This junta is loves themselves more and Thailand less compared to the last junta.  There will be no criticisms allowed of the cowards that run the country now.  Any problems will be explained in the usual fashion :  you do not understand, it is a unique situation, it is all just one big misunderstanding.    Everything the junta as done is for the junta, so your questions, though valid, fall on deaf ears of those who put themselves ahead of the country.    At least we do not have to listen to those boring Thaksin haters about the alleged vote buying,  What the junta is doing far worse. 

Feb 30th?

13 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Great news who won??

Theres  only one  applicant so Ill let u work it out

when is an election not an election? when it is run by the NCPO and pushed by the military. 

by next month the FEB date will be cancelled and by Feb the may date will be cancelled.. 

if by chance it does make it to an actual election day. it will be because the leader has found the right patsy to control easily. 

Anyway, an elected leader is nothing anymore since it was already claimed that the current gov will be controlling them in the background. I wish all Thailand the best 0f luck returning the country to democracy

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

better to boycott rather than participate in an unfair process and give undeserved legitimacy to the Junta.

Best thing they could do along with  MILLIONS  getting out on the street and bringing the country to a total halt.............although Prayut  will declare himself the winner "whatever"

Have the dang election.

Elect whosoever.

Doesn't matter.

It will be a nice break and an opportunity for the military to prepare for the next inevitable coup.

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

While I will be happy to see an election called, the question is under what rules? Will there be free discussion or will it be the hideous monstrosity that was the Charter referendum?

 

Will politicians be able to criticize the NCPO?

Will there be campaign rallies? Under what specific circumstances?

Will there be street rallies?

Will there be a 'caretaker' PM?

Will the Junta try to ban the PTP?

Will the military keep its nose out of things?

Will the Bureaucracy be allowed to be neutral?

???????????????????????

 

There are numerous questions that need to be answered before any sort of celebration can be held.

 

And, as the 'Devil is in the details' combined with the past performance of the Junta, I wouldn't be celebrating just yet. There still remains the very real idea that perhaps it is better to boycott rather than participate in an unfair process and give undeserved legitimacy to the Junta.

 

 

All of the above AND you woud think that by Mid August they would have nailed an exact date down.   Still sounds a bit "Ten bob each way."

It is just one great big pantomime, with the principal actor also being the script-writer and choreographer. When the curtain finally falls on his performance, I hope for his sake, he is not expecting a round of applause, although in truth, with his usual arrogance and vast ego, he is probably anticipating a standing ovation and many recalls to the stage.

Nobody in this apathetic nation ever questions "Why?". Why does it take 90 days after publication in the Royal Gazette? Why does an election have to take place 150 days after that date? Why, if 90 and 150 are maximum time frames, do things never get done in less time, since there is no restriction in doing them before the absolute last day? 

Oh well, just read the other news of the day: Election postponement till 2020 on the way - can't have people voting with tears in their eyes now can we. ?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Elections will be held on February 24 at the earliest and by May 5 at the latest, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said on Sunday.

Of what year?

5 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

All over the place !

Meanwhile authorities hold countless meetings to decide over road signs matching their road map: