Govt throws ball in EC’s court while suggesting a month’s delay in elections

By KAS CHANWANPEN, 
SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam

 

THE JUNTA-BACKED government yesterday tossed a hot potato toward the Election Commission (EC), putting the onus on the agency to decide the date of the general election taking into account the preparations for the royal coronation ceremony, while suggesting a month’s delay from the tentatively scheduled February 24.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday met with the EC commissioners to provide information about how the royal coronation ceremony would roll out. The official event in May will be three days long, but Wissanu stressed that other preparations could last two weeks before and after the coronation ceremony.

 

Wissanu, the government’s legal expert, however assured that the election would still take place before the coronation.

The timeline is forced by the Constitution, which requires that the vote be held within 150 days of the organic laws coming into effect, he said. So, the election would have to be held no later than May 5, he explained.

 

The Constitution also requires that the election results be announced within 60 days of the vote, he added. 

 

There might be some overlapping in the preparations for the two major events, Wissanu said.

 

If the EC insisted that the election be held on February 24, the poll results should be out around April 24, Wissanu said.

 

That timetable would require the King to preside over the inauguration of Parliament on May 9, only three days after the May 4 to 6 coronation ceremony, when there might be some post-ceremony activities still to attend to, such as hosting international delegations, he said.

 

A source close to the government yesterday revealed that the government had suggested the election be put off by a month to March 24. The election results and the setting up of the new government could be determined after the royal ceremony, the source said. 

 

After past heavy criticism that the government was trying to cling to power, Wissanu yesterday distanced the government from any possible delays, saying the matter was the EC’s responsibility.

 

He said the long-awaited election may or may not be postponed depending on the EC’s ability to organise and announce the poll results.

 

Wissanu said it might not be easy considering the agency would likely have to deal with lots of complaints, with the possibility of holding by-elections due to confusion over the new election method. 

 

Critics and observers yesterday urged the EC to bring the election forward in order to prevent an overlapping of the two events. But Wissanu explained that February 24 is the earliest date possible for all involved parties and agencies to be ready.

 

The EC is yet to make any decision on the matter. A source close to the EC said the commissioners would discuss the issue today.

 

Pro-election activists slammed the government, describing Wissanu’s suggestion of delays in order to find water from different sources across the country to complete the coronation ceremony, as undermining the voters’ dignity.

 

Activist Nuttaa Mahuttana wrote on Facebook: “I never felt my dignity undermined so much until I listened to Wissanu explaining why the election needed to be postponed.”

 

“After five years of depriving us of our rights, Wissanu should explain why the election has to be delayed, not how to find water for the ceremony,” Nuttaa wrote. “It is an insult to all Thai voters.”

 

Another activist Kan Pongprapaphan also attacked Wissanu’s explanation as totally off the topic. It degraded the voters’ dignity and Wissanu should be ashamed, he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30361588

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-04

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"...After past heavy criticism that the government was trying to cling to power, Wissanu yesterday distanced the government from any possible delays, saying the matter was the EC’s responsibility..."

 

The Junta are truly people without any sense of responsibility or honour.

 

Sad, sad times for beloved Thailand.

 

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The timeline is forced by the Constitution,

timeline isn't forced by anything other than what this idiot government wants

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

suggesting a month’s delay in elections

Looks like walking and chewing gum at the same time is not possible for this mob.

Ooda fort it!

As soon as I read about the coronation i knew something like this was bound to happen. How sad. Why not postpone the second event??  

Confirms everything about this “government” - unprepared for an event they knew about for more than a year - again more excuses, constant flip-flopping, manipulating, disorganized, poor planning skills, indecisive, poor organizational skills, dishonest- in one word - useless!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

I believe the printing presses are operating at full speed to deliver this news. 

Not like there's an option or anything - 

And the rascals were quite aware of important upcoming events to take place firstly. 

 

3 month delay.

11 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Not like there's an option or anything - 

And the rascals were quite aware of important upcoming events to take place firstly. 

 

3 month delay.

I seriously wonder if these numpties had actually thought of using the coranation as a stalling tactic until just now,  why else would they come up with the ludicrous idea of blaming delays in printing ballot papers. 

It's a FARCE

I'm not concerned about a 1 month delay it will give the anti Junta party's more time to campaign and get their message across. The Junta have been campaigning for over a year

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Wissanu yesterday distanced the government from any possible delays, saying the matter was the EC’s responsibility.

“The election needs to be held by February 2019,” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

The word of the Prime Minister is once again proven worthless.

Junta must need more time to have “certain things “ sorted out before its technically removed !


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

In control of everything for 4 years and especially installed to oversee the succession (or so many people said) they suddenly find things are out of control and need to blame somebody for it. So the E.C. now find themselves having to solve the problem thrown them by the NCPO. When there is praise they insist on taking it, when there is blame its always someone else's fault. Like squabbling schoolkids. 

1 hour ago, Carib said:

As soon as I read about the coronation i knew something like this was bound to happen. How sad. Why not postpone the second event??  

BLASHPHEMER!!!!

As I need to abide by Thaivisa rules  on this subject , No Comment.

Sure to push the baht even higher...

 

Dicktasters never let go easily.

And the Thais go on taking it all ...

Sigh ..........

2 hours ago, webfact said:

while suggesting a month’s delay from the tentatively scheduled February 24.

"I know . . . " says Wissanu, " . . . let's put the election one month closer to the coronation . . . that's bound to make for a bit of extra conflict and frustration . . . and anger. This guy has evidently read that book I've been going on about. And not just read it, it seems, but actually using its closing chapter as if it were a film script. How many more insults do these morons believe their minions will take? They'll discover to their absolute cost that a million minions might make a mutiny, if they - the NCPO, that is - aren't very careful . . . and wouldn't we all just love to see Prayuth, stuck on the sharp end of a cheesed-off stockbroker's sword?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Another activist Kan Pongprapaphan also attacked Wissanu’s explanation as totally off the topic. It degraded the voters’ dignity and Wissanu should be ashamed, he said. 

I would be more inclined to say it is an insult to the voters intelligence. 

 

Well the junta could blame social unrest as an excuse to delay but they had to find something...anything...what more can one say?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Govt throws ball in EC’s court while suggesting a month’s delay in elections

 

So that makes it clear that the coronation excuse was just a load of drivel, because bringing it closer to that date would only make the issue worse, if that was the case

 

7 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

Well the junta could blame social unrest as an excuse to delay

 

 

What they do now is called teasing to reach that goal

Edited January 4, 20197 yr by janclaes47

No Siree Bob, didn't see that coming- anyone who didn't should be in the Institute for the Blind!

 

Holding an election on the 5th of May with the other goings on is so farcical I can't believe they even mooted the date.

 

I am pretty sure of the reason for the NEXT excuse after this to delay things but due to a variety of restrictions I can't state it publicly other than 'funeral'. I think this comment falls within Modding guidelines. If not please feel free to delete this last paragraph.

 

Edit: I find it quite ironic that right next to this post at present is the picture of Prawit with his blingy hand over his eyes and the guy next to him laughing!

Edited January 4, 20197 yr by Psimbo

Seriously? It would appear that the junta is simply trying to delay (yet again) and avoid any criticism by tying the delay to the coronation events  (implying any criticism is subject to lese majesty).

5years in power was insufficient to bring happiness, perhaps they need just one more month to make Thailand happy and corruption free. It seems doubtful, if they have had over a year to plan an election and still can’t even organize that.

It all seems farcical. 

How any reasonable Thai person, can find any of this acceptable, is beyond my imagination. 

Feb  Mar  April May  delay cause ????

There will never be an election this year,.... who wants to bet?

3 hours ago, Cadbury said:

“The election needs to be held by February 2019,” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

The word of the Prime Minister is once again proven worthless.

What's proven worthless is a Junta unable to work as politicians... time to step aside & hand power back to a democratically elected government run by people who are capable of doing their jobs!

I don't hold out much hope of that ever happening!