Elections will be held on Feb 24, Thai govt maintains

[webfact]

Elections will be held on Feb 24, govt maintains

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION 

 

File photo : Prayut

 

POLITICAL OBSERVERS REMAIN SCEPTICAL, CITING |THE JUNTA’S FLAWED RECORD OF KEEPING PROMISES 

 

GOVERNMENT LEADERS reiterated yesterday that the national elections will be held on February 24, now that the last two electoral organic laws were promulgated on Wednesday. 

 

The junta’s No 2 man, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, stressed yesterday that the date remains unchanged, though how the relaxation of the ban on political activities unfolds depends entirely on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. 

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, in charge of legal affairs, also said yesterday that he has not heard of anything other than that national elections will be held on February 24. 

 

The Thai stock index, meanwhile, rose yesterday by 38.57 points or 2.30 per cent to 1,717.96. The market closed at Bt78.999 billion. Analysts attributed the surge to positive sentiment from the election development as well as possibility of a US-China trade deal.

 

Earlier, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had announced that the national elections could be held any day between February 24 and May 5. This period is restricted by the Constitution, which prescribes the national poll should take place within 150 days once all electoral organic laws go into effect. 

 

The last legislation is the MP election law, which was promulgated on Wednesday and should go into effect 90 days later, or by December 10, according to Wissanu. 

 

The road map to democracy dictated by the NCPO has never been this clear, despite the junta continuously promising over the nearly five years since the 2014 coup to return power to the people. 

 

However, with the NCPO’s history of failing to keep its promises and delaying polls, some political observers remain uncertain about this election. According to the Constitution, the junta gets to retain its indisputable power until a new government takes office.

 

‘Power to do anything’

 

Academics and politicians voiced concerns earlier that this stipulation essentially gives the junta the power to do anything, even nullifying the election and its results.

 

Sirawith Serithiwat, a pro-democracy activist and leader of the “We Want Election” group, said yesterday that anything could happen as long as the junta still has absolute power. Also, he said, there is always a chance that sweeping powers under Article 44 can be invoked to scrap the entire plan. 

 

“The NCPO should only act as a caretaker government, let go of power and major administrative work and focus solely on transitioning the country back to democracy by realising a free and fair voting,” the activist said. 

 

Meanwhile, political scientist Yutthaporn Issarachai believes it is unlikely that the junta will delay the election any further, considering all the unprecedented clarity on the matter.

 

“I don’t think Article 44 will be used in respect to the national election, apart from fixing the primary voting issue,” he said. 

 

As for concerns about the election being free and fair, Yutthaporn said that was the Election Commission’s responsibility. The commission is obliged to ensure voting goes smoothly, he said, because if the election results are rejected, the country could risk returning to the same old conflicts. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30354429

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-14

[Thaiwrath]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

gives the junta the power to do anything, even nullifying the election and its results.

Just what the country needs,a good, free, democratic election, (Which it obviously wont be) !

<deleted> joke !

[gunderhill]

2033?

[Thailand]

Vote counting will be done using multiple fingers an toes and the result will be announced 30th February 2020

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Elections will be held on Feb 24, govt maintains

Unless................................................

[zzaa09]

Well, at least we know know. 

Full moon and traditional mystic date, I'm sure. 

 

 

Making our order for a celebratory pig's head this week. 

Plenty of booze.

Feasting and merriment cometh. 

 

 

??

[ukrules]

8 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Making our order for a celebratory pig's head this week. 

Plenty of booze.

Feasting and merriment cometh.

You're having a laugh, the bars will now close for two separate weekends due to this election right in the middle of the high season unless they change the law about that...

 

[SABloke]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, stressed yesterday that the date remains unchanged

Did I miss something? When was this date announced. Prayuth always spoken of "no earlier than February" (If we ignore the Nov 2014, 2015, 2016, and Novemeber 2017 periods he talked about), and yesterday we were told "between February 24 and May 15th or whatever".? Now Small P says 24 Feb. Is the date...

[Eligius]

Yawn, yawn

This is all so tedious. Do they really think we are little kids - jumping up and down, crying out: 'Oh weeeeeee! There is going to be an election. Now we will have democracy again. Yeah!'.

 

There will be NO GENUINE election. Even so, the fake one will be delayed yet again. The very fact that the junta hold complete and undiminished power right up until the moment that a new 'government' is sworn in - and can even cancel the results of any election they don't like - says it all. Do people really think that with such massive, god-like power in their hands, the junta will not massively cheat? Of course they will. That is ALL they know how to do. Don't people get it yet? Do people really think criminals will suddenly change their spots and stripes and become honest men?!

 

Look: there is NOT GOING TO BE ANY GENUINE AND FAIR ELECTION. It's all utter nonsense, pretence and balderdash.

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

though how the relaxation of the ban on political activities unfolds depends entirely on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. 

face it , it is a military government with no real opposition, at some animalistic level they know that, their behavior includes manufacturing events which have only one goal, excuses

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

You're having a laugh, the bars will now close for two separate weekends due to this election right in the middle of the high season unless they change the law about that...

 

That only applies to you city slicker types who keep exclusive Farang company.

In the sticks, no such alcohol bans exist.

[gunderhill]

41 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Yawn, yawn

This is all so tedious. Do they really think we are little kids - jumping up and down, crying out: 'Oh weeeeeee! There is going to be an election. Now we will have democracy again. Yeah!'.

 

There will be NO GENUINE election. Even so, the fake one will be delayed yet again. The very fact that the junta hold complete and undiminished power right up until the moment that a new 'government' is sworn in - and can even cancel the results of any election they don't like - says it all. Do people really think that with such massive, god-like power in their hands, the junta will not massively cheat? Of course they will. That is ALL they know how to do. Don't people get it yet? Do people really think criminals will suddenly change their spots and stripes and become honest men?!

 

Look: there is NOT GOING TO BE ANY GENUINE AND FAIR ELECTION. It's all utter nonsense, pretence and balderdash.

I'll vote for that!!

[phitsanulokjohn]

Seeing will be believing.

[soistalker]

Oh, that's nice.

They already decided who will win many months ago.

[janclaes47]

44 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

That only applies to you city slicker types who keep exclusive Farang company.

In the sticks, no such alcohol bans exist.

You're right about that, after all , why woould there be bar closures in a location where there are no bars in the first place

[kensisaket]

3 hours ago, gunderhill said:

2033?

Exactly, they didn't say Feb 24th of what year.

[JAG]

There may be something in this. Judging by the photo in the OP they may be running out of fabric in Government House to make his tunics from. This latest effort appears to have been made out of a tablecloth!

[namatjira]

39 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

You're right about that, after all , why woould there be bar closures in a location where there are no bars in the first place

Yes there is no need need of bars in Nakorn Nowhere.....

[Gandtee]

I think he meant February 30th.?

[SABloke]

6 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

That only applies to you city slicker types who keep exclusive Farang company.

In the sticks, no such alcohol bans exist.

Oh yes, the bars in the sticks. ? In the small town where I spend a few months a year, real bars and restaurants don't sell alcohol either, and there isn't another farang in sight. Back in the city all you need to do is walk to any corner shop and you can buy alcohol. ?

[JoeLing]

I was expecting the elections to be held on the 30st February.

[AlphMichaels]

A reported 20+ parties vying for votes from people who will listen to a gov Dr and believe anything they tell them after waiting in a queue for a day.   

 

Uniquely unqualified..., poorly educated in their field..., collecting cash & making promises they can't possibly keep.   Take away 18 and it's a sloth race to the bottom of the tree. 

Edited September 14, 2018 by AlphMichaels

[Eric Loh]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, political scientist Yutthaporn Issarachai believes it is unlikely that the junta will delay the election any further, considering all the unprecedented clarity on the matter.

I share Yutthaporn's view. This time matters seem to converge and the election seem more likely to happen. Not only that all the election organic laws are completed and are very concised, the speed of the laws being royally endorsed points to the pressure beyond the NCPO to have the election. The ground sentiment is also very strong that Prayut has to go. Most Thais and in social media have turned on him. Those political parties that pledged to support him will be decimated in the election. Even his biggest supporter in the Privy Council has been de-fanged and kept silent by higher powers. The coronation will be held by an elected government. No one wants to be associated with an unpopular and non people mandated military government. I have the feeling that he will not participate in the election in any shape or form. He may opt for an outside chance to be PM.    

[Misterwhisper]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Academics and politicians voiced concerns earlier that this stipulation essentially gives the junta the power to do anything, even nullifying the election and its results.

That must be one of the signs for "positive political development in Thailand" out-going U.S. ambassador Glyn Davis yesterday was reported to have been seeing.

Edited September 14, 2018 by Misterwhisper

[NextStationBangkok]

So, it is officially 2024 ? ?

 

Hope no more new changes in announcement ? ?

[TKDfella]

Actions speak louder than words and all I hear is the junta bringing in laws to stop this & that and nothing from the masses. Any election here is going be junta ruled and the results too...all junta in disguise.

[Ossy]

Sorry, Mr Wise-Guy . . . We're not falling for that one. We all know you well enough by now that anything you say, whilst (A) with your right hand raised, (B) not wearing your rubber band and (C) wearing your check patterned silk blouse, is almost certain to be a lie . . . pretty well the same as when you're practicing all your other dance moves. Interesting, too, that the photo comes from your own, 'Prayut' Photo File . . . do you have many more in there that we can 'admire'?

[TKDfella]

4 minutes ago, Ossy said:

Sorry, Mr Wise-Guy . . . We're not falling for that one. We all know you well enough by now that anything you say, whilst (A) with your right hand raised, (B) not wearing your rubber band and (C) wearing your check patterned silk blouse, is almost certain to be a lie . . . pretty well the same as when you're practicing all your other dance moves. Interesting, too, that the photo comes from your own, 'Prayut' Photo File . . . do you have many more in there that we can 'admire'?

Well, we expats don't fall for it but then we expats won't be voting.

[wvavin]

If this guy were to be elected and this simply spells that Thailand would be spiraling down the abyss!

[Ossy]

3 hours ago, SABloke said:

Did I miss something? When was this date announced.

That's just it . . . the date has not previously been set in stone; just hinted at during the junta's school playground teasing. So when Small P - great name, by the way … my 5yr old stepson has those - stresses that the date remains unchanged, he really means 'the ever-changing date remains unchanged'. He's a crafty old git.