Election Bill Enacted, Paving Way For 2019 Poll

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Election Bill Enacted, Paving Way For 2019 Poll

 

 

BANGKOK — His Majesty the King on Wednesday signed into the law the regulations governing the upcoming general election, bringing Thailand one step closer to next year’s poll.

 

Published on the Royal Gazette, the laws on the election and selection procedures for MPs and Senators, respectively, dictate that an election date must be formally announced between 90 days and 240 days from now. The government has previously said the next election could take place as early as Feb. 24, 2019.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/09/12/election-bill-enacted-paving-way-for-2019-poll/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-09-12

[webfact]

Green signal for polls

By SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON 
THE NATION

 

 

THE VISION of voters heading to the ballot booths is becoming clearer after the new law on MP elections was promulgated yesterday.
 

Thailand is just a few steps away from a general election – an event that last took place in February 2014. 

With the elections in sight, we can also expect some interesting political developments in the coming months.

 

 

For instance, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should soon be disclosing which political party’s candidate he will become if he wants to return to power. Also, the two largest political parties – Democrat and Pheu Thai – will be electing new leaders and naming their PM candidates. 

 

 

As a first step toward the polls, legislation on MP elections and the Senate structure were announced in the Royal Gazette yesterday. However, the law on MP elections will only come into effect 90 days later, or around mid-December. 

 

As per the Constitution, a general election must take place within 150 days once the last of four laws required for the national poll come into effect. The laws in question are: the Political Parties Act, Election Commission Act, MP Election Act and Senators Acquisition Act.

 

The next step would be to relax political restrictions, so parties can begin preparing for the election. 

 

After coming to power, the junta issued many orders restricting political activities, including a ban on political gatherings of five or more people, and an order prohibiting political parties from convening meetings or holding events that are political in nature. The easing of political restrictions are bound to bring some exciting developments.

 

First, General Prayut, who heads the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), is expected to share his future political plans later this month – he had promised to do so once the political restrictions were relaxed. 

 

Now the question is whether the junta chief will choose to return as government head, and if so, will it be as a party candidate or an outsider.

 

If he contests as a party candidate, he will have a better chance of becoming prime minister if his party can gather enough support in the House of Representatives. 

 

However, if he chooses to be an outside candidate, then it may get a bit risky because he will have to wait for the House of Representatives to fail in electing a prime minister.

 

Another exciting development will be the names the two main political parties will reveal as their prime minister candidate. Each party is required by law to nominate no more than three PM candidates ahead of the election.

 

The contest for the party leader’s post, meanwhile, has become very lively in the Democrat Party. The current party chief Abhisit Vejjajiva has made it clear that he wants to contest another term, and he has a good chance of succeeding. 

 

However, some Democrats claim the NCPO is trying to send in their own man to fight for the Democrat leadership. Democrat Watchara Phetthong claimed that the junta wanted Abhisit to be replaced, because he has proved to be “an important obstacle” to Prayut’s return to power.

 

Abhisit said recently that the Democrat Party under his leadership would not support a prime minister who is not elected by the House of Representatives. This clearly means that Abhisit is against an outsider PM, who is not attached to any political party. 

 

The third step that would bring the country closer to an election would be a royal decree on the election date, which should be issued some time between late December and early January.

 

Once that happens, we will get to hear who the PM candidates are and parties can start campaigning. 

 

If by that time Prayut fails to decide which party he wants to become a PM candidate of, then it could only mean that he does not want to reveal his political ambitions before the election. If he opts for this choice, the only way he can return as government head is to hope that the House of Representatives fails to elect the next prime minister and the Senate steps in to join the vote.

 

All 250 senators will be appointed by the NCPO, though 50 of them will come from 200 candidates initially screened through voting among the applicants.

 

Competing parties will have about 70 days to campaign, but it cannot be done as freely as in previous polls. 

Prayut has maintained that the political restrictions will only be “relaxed”, not completely lifted – his excuse is that the country has to be peaceful and free campaigning will only lead to disorder.

 

“We have to find ways to ensure peace in the country. There must be no chaos before we reach democracy,” he announced last week.

 

The last step is the election itself. In line with the junta’s road map and relevant laws, the Election Commission has come up with four dates for the election: the earliest being February 24 and the latest allowed by law being May 5. The others are March 31 and April 28.

 

Political temperatures can only be rising from now on. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30354335

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-13

[webfact]

General poll to take place no later than May 2019

 

BANGKOK, 13 September 2018 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs has reassured the nation of the government’s commitment to holding the general election no later than May next year. 

While presiding over a conference of the National Municipal League of Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam delivered an opening speech on the topic “Local Elections and Municipal Development under the 20-year National Strategy”. He cited the national strategy as an important instrument in setting the future direction of the country, adding that since the strategy was endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in July, various committees have been assigned to draw up a strategic master plan within 2-3 months. 

In regard to upcoming elections, Mr Wissanu pointed out that both the general and local elections are now drawing closer. He said the National Council for Peace and Order will consider revoking its ban on political activities once the organic bill on the election of Members of Parliament comes into force. He also reconfirmed that the much-anticipated general poll will be organized in May 2019 at the latest. 

Meanwhile, NLA Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai announced today that both the organic laws on the election of MPs and the selection of senators have been published in the Royal Gazette. After this, he said the NLA will speed up the deliberation of all pending bills and the Cabinet has been asked to quickly forward important bills to the legislature, especially those having to do with reforms and the national strategy. 

As for the six bills concerning local elections, the NLA Whip expects that they will be sent in by the Cabinet in late September before being included on the NLA’s agenda in early October.

 

-- nnt 2018-09-13

[Lungstib]

The selection event that is being wrongly described as a free and fair democratic election will take place sometime soon. Partaking will enable the organisers to say you had your chance and failed. Not partaking will give them the ability to say you had your chance and failed. Already fixed to provide the answer they want its just a sham to deceive the western democracies and international giants that anyway dont care what happens here.

[fullcave]

Oh boy, still too early to make any predictions.? 

[Zack61]

The next step would be to relax political restrictions, so parties can begin preparing for the election. 

 

.....maybe just a tad. Or perhaps a fraction of a tad.

[JAG]

The Nation's graphic diagram of the political timeline (post #2) misses two important steps from the process. The announcement of the dissolution of Pheu Thai party (almost certain) and Future Forward party ( very likely). As to exactly when, well you will have to examine the Byzantine labrynth of regulations the junta has put in place, governing the last date at which candidates can be declared or registered, and then go back a week or so. In that way, whilst the dissolution of these parties can be represented as the inevitable result of their reckless behaviour, it is regrettable that the process does not allow sufficient time for alternative parties to be established or candidates to be put forward. But hey! That's democracy and 'the rule of law". Thailand will just have to go with what they've got.

 

Look on it as confirmation that an election is imminent.

[Eligius]

'[Campaigning] cannot be done as freely as in previous polls. 

Prayut has maintained that the political restrictions will only be “relaxed”, not completely lifted ...

“We have to find ways to ensure peace in the country. There must be no chaos before we reach democracy" -

 

says it all doesn't it?

 

Yesterday I predicted that the ban on free political speech and campaigning will NEVER be lifted by the junta - and today I am proven right. Mind you, even a child could have foreseen this.

 

Any bit of dissent or argument and - horror of horrors - any vigorous criticism of Prayut and his gang will be construed as 'chaos' which must of necessity prevent 'democracy'.

 

It really is now a case of: 'Vote for whom I, Prayut, tell you to vote for! Don't you dare disagree. Opinions are of course free - as long as they are the same as my own!' 

 

And we all know the outcome: Prayut (or his militaristic team) will be the winners (sorry: already are the winners). Surprise, surprise!

[bluesea]

heads or tails ??

[BobBKK]

1. Senators elected - check
2. political parties controlled - check
3. meeting banned - check
4. PM non-political tour - check
5. FFP founder charged - check
6. Former MP's 'encouraged' to change affiliation - check

 

ok we have enough, proceed to the equal and fair elections that prove Thailand is a democracy to the world!!!  

[BestB]

I wonder what will happen if general anc co not elected ?

 

Does he go back to being army chief ? Or does he turn into advisor and plant another coup ?

[tigermoth]

There is no way Prayut will become prime minister. He is intensely disliked by the Thais and any party would be commiting suicide by having him as their nomination. The only way he can possibly return is if the elections are fixed which looks alarmingly an increasing possibility with full freedom of speech not being lifted. This will cause severe sanctions from many western and even some asian countries.

[MaxLee]

15 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Election Bill Enacted

Never-ever-dever-to-be-elections, to be more accurate 

[Eligius]

2 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

Never-ever-dever-to-be-elections, to be more accurate 

Never, ever to be GENUINE elections under junta rule - right! The whole thing is rigged and manipulated from start to finish.

 

Edited September 13, 2018 by Eligius

[MaxLee]

Just now, Eligius said:

Never, ever to be GENUINE elections - right! The whole thing is rigged and manipulated from start to finish.

Was the Red elections in the past ever different 

****Hint hint: Vote buying by the other EXILED man who must not be named 

 

Either way is rigged........

[Eligius]

8 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

Was the Red elections in the past ever different 

****Hint hint: Vote buying by the other EXILED man who must not be named 

 

Either way is rigged........

Yes - but the masses in huge numbers did genuinely WANT Thaksin and his party to rule Thailand; they loved him and many still do. They loathe Prayut. 

 

Also, under Yingluck (who tried to provide the last election we have had here), people could campaign and speak out freely - no bar on political expression. That is certainly not the case under Prayut!

 

Edited September 13, 2018 by Eligius

[steve73]

The most important thing I see missing from that time line is the YEAR.

 

Anyway, I thought it was now illegal to spread fake news..! 

[SABloke]

15 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

dictate that an election date must be formally announced between 90 days and 240 days from now.

Only yesterday we were reading that an election MUST take place within 150 days - now it only needs to be "announced" within 240 days. So on day 240 they will announce an election date 150 days later than that. 

 

[bergan]

8 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Yes - but the masses in huge numbers did genuinely WANT Thaksin and his party to rule Thailand; they loved him and many still do. They loathe Prayut. 

 

Also, under Yingluck (who tried to provide the last election we have had here), people could campaign and speak out freely - no bar on political expression. That is certainly not the case under Prayut!

 

And they will vote for any candidate opposite the army/yellow shirts in coming elections. Can't really blame them.

 

Vote buying has been going on on both sides, anyone thinking that Thaksin and Yingluck won the election because of vote buying are clueless - those people would have voted for them anyway, but were often offered money by both sides and then chose to accept it from the party they really wanted to vote for.

[Ossy]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

I wonder what will happen if general anc co not elected ?

 

Does he go back to being army chief ? Or does he turn into advisor and plant another coup ?

With a bit of luck, it could increase the country's ominously growing suicide figures . . . he said, just a little tongue-in-cheek.

[Ossy]

45 minutes ago, Eligius said:

The whole thing is rigged and manipulated from start to finish.

What . . . like the cave rescue, do you mean? Prayuth must have a team of expert riggers, beavering away, inside Govt. House.

[candide]

2 hours ago, MaxLee said:

Was the Red elections in the past ever different 

****Hint hint: Vote buying by the other EXILED man who must not be named 

 

Either way is rigged........

They were completely different: free speech allowed, meetings allowed, parties allowed to do whatever they wanted, presence of national and international observers, etc....

By the way, the 2011 elections have been organised under Abhisit government by a yellow-tainted EC.

Edited September 13, 2018 by candide

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, MaxLee said:

Was the Red elections in the past ever different 

****Hint hint: Vote buying by the other EXILED man who must not be named 

 

Either way is rigged........

Got it. Now the regime would not have any problem winning the election. They got the big corporations,  treasury and the rich elites to pay more to the voters. Great idea. Somchai will be happy to take the money and in the ballot box tick PTP. 

[MaxLee]

51 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Got it. Now the regime would not have any problem winning the election. They got the big corporations,  treasury and the rich elites to pay more to the voters. Great idea. Somchai will be happy to take the money and in the ballot box tick PTP. 

The big corporation, treasury and the rest of the ruling regime circles are still just only 10% of Thailand,.... Bangkok alone is not Thailand. They know tha, that's why the current rulers will keep postponing until the day they die.....

[Eric Loh]

36 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

The big corporation, treasury and the rest of the ruling regime circles are still just only 10% of Thailand,.... Bangkok alone is not Thailand. They know tha, that's why the current rulers will keep postponing until the day they die.....

Correction, not 10% but 1% having 58% of the money enough to buy and win many elections for the establishment. They have been postponing and buying politicians and votes thru populist policies. Unfortunately money can buy food but not hearts and minds.  

[MaxLee]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Correction, not 10% but 1% having 58% of the money enough to buy and win many elections for the establishment. They have been postponing and buying politicians and votes thru populist policies. Unfortunately money can buy food but not hearts and minds.  

And I say, the whole point here is, this regime will never-ever-dever-Bever in our lifetimes hold any elections any time, wanna bet?

[bergan]

58 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

And I say, the whole point here is, this regime will never-ever-dever-Bever in our lifetimes hold any elections any time, wanna bet?

You're dead wrong. They will hold an election, as it doesn't matter who wins as long as Article 44 is still in play.

[MaxLee]

30 minutes ago, bergan said:

You're dead wrong. They will hold an election, as it doesn't matter who wins as long as Article 44 is still in play.

You're wasting your time for nothing, dude, wanna bet?

[wvavin]

Enact new election law to ensure who is going to be PM? 

[Lungstib]

58 minutes ago, bergan said:

1 hour ago, MaxLee said:

And I say, the whole point here is, this regime will never-ever-dever-Bever in our lifetimes hold any elections any time, wanna bet?

You're dead wrong. They will hold an election, as it doesn't matter who wins as long as Article 44 is still in play.

IMHO yes there will be an election, just like there was a referendum on the constitution, but the conditions will be so extreme, any dissent criminalised, certain parties banned and an outcome rigged if it doesn't go their way. Winning is already assured with the selected senate. Article 44 can be held in reserve.