Doubts rise over Feb 24 poll date

By THE NATION

 

 

ELECTION Commission (EC) secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma yesterday refused to confirm that the next election will be held on February 24, fuelling speculation of a possible delay.

 

He said February 24 was the earliest date the agency would be ready to hold the general election, citing a conclusion of an EC meeting held many months ago in Pattaya City.

 

“The election commissioners, however, have not scheduled February 24 as the election date,” he said.

 

Jarungvith added that according to its order, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order is also empowered to “work with” the EC in scheduling the election date.

 

The official noted that after the law on the election of members of Parliament takes effect on December 11, the national vote will be held within the next 150 days but not later than May 9 in accordance with the legislation. Jarungvith’s remark caused politicians to conclude yesterday that the election will not be held on February 24.

 

Paiboon Nititawan, leader of the pro-junta People Reform Party, said he was convinced the next election would not be held on February 24, as many political parties would not be ready by then. He added, however, that he saw no problem with that.

 

A former senator and member of the post-coup National Reform Council, Paiboon said he expected political parties to raise the issue of their lack of preparedness for the election at a meeting with the EC scheduled for November 22.

 

He noted that the law requires election candidates to be members of a party for at least 90 days to be eligible to run under its banner.

Varawut Silapa-archa, who heads the Chartthaipattana Party’s policy and strategy committee, said he was not surprised by Jarungvith’s remark. 

 

“Many people in the political circles who I talked to agreed that there would be no election on February 24. There are many factors that would cause the postponement,” Varawut said.

 

However, he added that he believed the next election would be held within the legal limit of 150 days after the new law on MP elections takes effect.

 

“I can wait if the election will be postponed for a month or two. But it must be not later than 150 days. We have been waiting for four years already,” he said. The young politician blamed the EC’s failure to designate constituencies early for the lack of preparedness of political parties. He said parties need to know which districts and areas are in which constituency so that they can field suitable candidates. Also, parties are required by law to select their candidates based on the results of primary voting among party members, he added.

 

Meanwhile, provincial officials of the EC have become worried that a delay in designating constituencies might cause the election to be postponed beyond February 24, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

Election directors from many provinces have asked the EC to announce new constituencies in accordance with the current Constitution. The EC implementation plan calls for designation of constituencies to be completed by November 9. 

 

Pheu Thai politicians yesterday also called on the EC to complete the designation as soon as possible in order to prevent further delays in the election timing.

 

Meanwhile, Suthin Klangpha, a politician from the anti-junta Pheu Thai Party, said yesterday that he suspected the junta government was plotting to further delay the next election.

 

He claimed that pro-junta political parties would seek postponement by arguing that they were not prepared for the election on February 24. 

 

On Sunday, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan said he was “100-per-cent sure” the election would not happen on February 24. 

 

Jatuporn, a former member of the Pheu Thai Party, said that more than 30 parties were still waiting to be endorsed by the EC’s party registrar. In response, Jarungvith yesterday said that of the 37 groups of people applying to be registered as political parties under the new Political Parties Act, 25 had been given approval by the EC. That left only 12 to be officially registered, which Jarungvith said would be completed within a week or two.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30358429

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-13

"...Jarungvith added that according to its order, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order is also empowered to “work with” the EC in scheduling the election date..."

 

"Work With"?

 

 

When did the words "Work With" come to mean act as an errand boy?

 

"Work With"

 

 

Comedy gold!

 

 

 

"said he was convinced the next election would not be held on February 24, as many political parties would not be ready by then"

 

Haha ... No surprise here !

When those political parties are held so tightly to somebody else's rules and timeline with no wiggle room or firm dates established, of course they may not be ready. This makes me think of a horse race where the "intended winner" is all set to run and the competing horses are only allowed to show up moments before the starting pistol fires.

Well why not? Send up a trial balloon or two and see what they can get away with. 

Probably quite a bit more, given a generally apathetic public and political parties simply desperate for a few crumbs from the table no matter what indignities they have to endure. It's almost enough to get me to become a turncoat and side with the fascists at this point, I have to admit...

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by baboon

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

ELECTION Commission (EC) secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma yesterday refused to confirm that the next election will be held on February 24, fuelling speculation of a possible delay.

 

Wait for it!! ......

Wait for it ......

 

When will there be a bomb or some  sort of protest to trigger a delay? For the sake of safety and stability.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

There are many factors that would cause the postponement,” Varawut said.

all of this publicity , over the right reasons, is working in favor of the junta as it is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy

2 hours ago, neeray said:

"said he was convinced the next election would not be held on February 24, as many political parties would not be ready by then"

 

Haha ... No surprise here !

When those political parties are held so tightly to somebody else's rules and timeline with no wiggle room or firm dates established, of course they may not be ready. This makes me think of a horse race where the "intended winner" is all set to run and the competing horses are only allowed to show up moments before the starting pistol fires.

More over, we're not even sure if there will be any opposition parties existing by the time February rolls around.

A game that will shape up quite nicely for The Gang.

8 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

all of this publicity , over the right reasons, is working in favor of the junta as it is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy

The only thing here that will be fulfilled is a further loss of face and credibility.

So does this mean 90 days needed In order to form more Pro Junta parties to tit for tat Phue THAI? And then extra days to disqualify and bring them into have a reconditioning talk at the Khon Kaen military base?

Probably election date is set on 29, Feb, and it will be skipped anyway in 2020 due to lack of preparation and wait for 2024.  ????

 

This just General a rule. ????

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Doubts rise over Feb 24 poll date

It's the doubt that was never in doubt.

Surprise surprise. Who would have guessed? ????  

 

History repeats itself!

3 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Wait for it!! ......

Wait for it ......

 

When will there be a bomb or some  sort of protest to trigger a delay? For the sake of safety and stability.

 

Don't need a protest. They already announced some time ago that an election couldn't happen before a certain significant event and no dates for that have been announced yet.

Many factors that could delay the election but one main one in General.

Having seen the violence, uncertainty & economic mess created while "elected" governments were in power, together with their dithering policies, I am sure that I am not the only one enjoying a stable and peaceful environment and a sense of normality. Granted the "economy" could do better. I am more concerned with the elections being held and what might happen, than they not be held. People seem to forget how we got here in the first place - through democracy.

38 minutes ago, Orac said:

a certain significant event

Ah, good . . . another game. Now what could that be I wonder? . . . good game ????

Ah, good . . . another game. Now what could that be I wonder? . . . good game [emoji848]

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



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Too bad for Thailand. They can keep up their mai bpen rai attitude and soon they will be living with no voting rights and one party or military rule. Most Thais I know don't seem to care at all. They are too busy taking selfies and trying to look good. 

50 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

Having seen the violence, uncertainty & economic mess created while "elected" governments were in power, together with their dithering policies, I am sure that I am not the only one enjoying a stable and peaceful environment and a sense of normality. Granted the "economy" could do better. I am more concerned with the elections being held and what might happen, than they not be held. People seem to forget how we got here in the first place - through democracy.

We got here in the first place because of a faction who will only accept democracy if their side wins.

48 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

Having seen the violence, uncertainty & economic mess created while "elected" governments were in power, together with their dithering policies, I am sure that I am not the only one enjoying a stable and peaceful environment and a sense of normality. Granted the "economy" could do better. I am more concerned with the elections being held and what might happen, than they not be held. People seem to forget how we got here in the first place - through democracy.

Simple solution. Just get the military to do their job by turning their guns outwards instead of inwards like they have done 12 times over. They have governed Thailand more than elected governments and still the country is in a mess. Maybe time to give democracy a chance. 

We're all Shocked!

Farcical!

I wonder why so many have a problem to comprehend the meaning of 24 February at the earliest and 9 May at the latest

5 hours ago, neeray said:

This makes me think of a horse race where the "intended winner" is all set to run and the competing horses are only allowed to show up moments before the starting pistol fires.

Not to mention that all the 'competing horses' are hobbled to boot.

Geez, here we go again, Ha!

1 hour ago, IamNoone88 said:

Having seen the violence, uncertainty & economic mess created while "elected" governments were in power, together with their dithering policies, I am sure that I am not the only one enjoying a stable and peaceful environment and a sense of normality. Granted the "economy" could do better. I am more concerned with the elections being held and what might happen, than they not be held. People seem to forget how we got here in the first place - through democracy.

What is this "sense of normality" of which you speak?

 

We "got to this place" not through democracy as you crassly suggest but through certain unelected elites and a myopic section of the urban middle class refusing to accept the democratic wishes of the Thai people and thus initiating /supporting the illegal seizure of power by the military.

 

I note you are happy as a foreigner with the current appalling state of affairs but frankly, your views (and mine) are of little moment. The way forward is for the Thai people to decide in a free and transparent election under a non-partisan constitution. Or perhaps you also take issue with that given your "enjoyment of a stable and peaceful environment."

 

To cap it all you get it wrong on the economy which all things considered is doing well.

5 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Wait for it!! ......

Wait for it ......

 

When will there be a bomb or some  sort of protest to trigger a delay? For the sake of safety and stability.

Exactly this is what I told my friends back home.

1 hour ago, Orac said:

 

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



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Ah, that event. Thanks, Orac, but strange how quiet things have become, about a Coronation that Prayuth said, in June, he wanted to be before the election, i.e. within 3 months and 11 days from now. Knowing how the junta like to tart things up a tad, they're leaving themselves with barely enough time to get the invite cards printed.

44 minutes ago, jayboy said:

What is this "sense of normality" of which you speak?

 

We "got to this place" not through democracy as you crassly suggest but through certain unelected elites and a myopic section of the urban middle class refusing to accept the democratic wishes of the Thai people and thus initiating /supporting the illegal seizure of power by the military.

 

I note you are happy as a foreigner with the current appalling state of affairs but frankly, your views (and mine) are of little moment. The way forward is for the Thai people to decide in a free and transparent election under a non-partisan constitution. Or perhaps you also take issue with that given your "enjoyment of a stable and peaceful environment."

 

To cap it all you get it wrong on the economy which all things considered is doing well.

A strong contender for post of the day, jayboy. You got all sides covered and not a word wasted . . . I must practice that ????

2 hours ago, Ossy said:

Ah, good . . . another game. Now what could that be I wonder? . . . good game ????

Funnily enough I was just thinking about long stay visas in Bavaria