PM Prayut mum on poll delay

[webfact]

PM mum on poll delay

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

EC chief says election date cannot be fixed before publication of decree, denies choice of march 10.

 

DESPITE mounting criticism and widespread calls to avoid a further delay of the election, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday remained defiant and refused to say whether the poll would be put off, while claiming the international community understood the situation.

 

 

Thailand is the Asean chair this year and is required to host two summits of regional leaders and several other meetings at the ministerial and senior official levels. 

 

Asean diplomats have expressed their worries that the political uncertainty might jeopardise Thailand’s leadership of the regional bloc. The first Asean ministerial meeting will take place in the middle of next week in Chiang Mai.

 

The much-anticipated Royal Decree on the election, which will allow the Election Commission to fix the poll date, has yet to be issued and Prayut yesterday said he did not know when it would be published in the Royal Gazette.

 

“It will be when it will be,” Prayut told reporters yesterday after the weekly Cabinet meeting. “I haven’t said anything about a delay or no delay.”

 

Speaking of the upcoming royal coronation, which is said to be the reason for the proposed delay in the election, Prayut said that international friends all wanted to participate in the event.

 

“All the countries I have visited, they understand. So, what do you want from me?” he said, apparently irritated by the criticism and media reports over the possibility of the national poll being postponed. 

 

Although in the past couple months the regime had appeared firm about the election and even spoke of holding it on February 24, its recent moves suggest that the process might be put off by a month, to March 24, due to the coronation ceremony of the King in May.

 

 

Confusion over legal issues have complicated the fixing of the election date. None of the concerned authorities had any answers to the public’s demand for an election.

 

Election Commission (EC) president Ittiporn Boonpracong yesterday rejected reports that the agency preferred March 10 as the day for the casting of ballots. Only after the Royal Decree on the election is published can the EC determine the poll date, he said.

 

“We at the EC are well aware of our responsibility. We have to follow the law and give some clarity to the public,” Ittiporn said. “But I don’t want to give out any unconfirmed information.”

 

Earlier, it was said that the EC wanted March 10 to be the polling day to ensure that they could finalise the results within 150 days of the electoral laws coming into effect. 

 

The Constitution requires that the election process be completed within the 150-day period. 

 

But questions arose if the 150-day period covered only the casting of ballots or also the announcement of the election results. There are fears that confusion on this score could lead to the annulment of the election as unconstitutional.

 

 

Ittiporn yesterday said that the agency was now focused on holding the election within 150 days after the electoral laws come into effect and announcing the results 60 days after the poll.

 

Despite the debate on the 150-period, Ittiporn said the agency had yet to consider bringing the question to the Constitutional Court. 

 

 

In a related development, at least 150 pro-poll protesters yesterday gathered around the Ratchaprasong intersection in the heart of Bangkok to show their opposition to any delay of the election.

 

They demanded that the junta be frank about the publication of the Royal Decree and stop intervening in the electoral process, which is the responsibility of the EC.

 

While the government claims the overlapping of the royal coronation ceremony with the election could make the holding of an election in February difficult, the group said the government should be more efficient in its work to ensure that both the coronation and the election could go on according to the planned schedule.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30361880

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-09

[Thaiwrath]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

So, what do you want from me?” he said,

Immediate resignation, from your unelected post would be a good start for most.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

while claiming the international community understood the situation.

Is that North Korea and China dear unelected leader?

[bluesofa]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday remained defiant and refused to say whether the poll would be put off, while claiming the international community understood the situation.

The only thing the international community understands is that the 'alleged' PM shows absolutely no responsibility about anything, while having the temperament of a spoiled child.

[harada]

3 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

The only thing the international community understands is that the 'alleged' PM shows absolutely no responsibility about anything, while having the temperament of a spoiled child.

So he has the potential to become POTUS.

[Odysseus123]

He looks rather pretty in powder blue..

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

He looks rather pretty in powder blue..

Careful now - you could be today's recipient of the PM's "punch in the face" award.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday remained defiant and refused to say whether the poll would be put off, while claiming the international community understood the situation.

ever the fool

[colinneil]

Of course Prayut is defiant, he is not yet finished at the trough, he is grabbing as much as he possibly can before the people finally rise up against him.

[bluesofa]

Just now, colinneil said:

Of course Prayut is defiant, he is not yet finished at the trough, he is grabbing as much as he possibly can before the people finally rise up against him.

We can hope Colin. So far sadly, there don't seem to be enough people motivated to do much.

[faraday]

I really thought that this was gonna be about his Mum defending him.

 

Nope, I'm not joking...

 

[Thailand]

The man is a total embarrassment to this lovely country, I cringe every time I see a headline with his name knowing it's going to be yet another cluster--k.

 

Perhaps one day that headline will be of another kind.

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, Thailand said:

The man is a total embarrassment to this lovely country, I cringe every time I see a headline with his name knowing it's going to be yet another cluster--k.

 

Perhaps one day that headline will be of another kind.

I can't see that happening until the headline announcing his death. Although knowing him, he'd probably try to deny it.

[Eligius]

So the daily insult to the Thai nation's intelligence continues. The junta and its leader cannot even be straightforward about their own change of plans!

 

Why oh why do the Thais just go on taking all of this? It is bitterly disappointing (to put it mildly). The Thai people really do deserve to win the 'Most Submissive and Obsequious People of the World' award!

[neeray]

6 minutes ago, Eligius said:

So the daily insult to the Thai nation's intelligence continues. The junta and its leader cannot even be straightforward about their own change of plans!

 

Why oh why do the Thais just go on taking all of this? It is bitterly disappointing (to put it mildly). The Thai people really do deserve to win the 'Most Submissive and Obsequious People of the World' award!

"Why oh why do the Thais just go on taking all of this?"

I am happy they are "taking all this". But I am optimistic that they are "taking it all in" and will react appropriately at poll time (whenever that will be).

[BestB]

In other words he knows he and his proxies have no chance of winning. Best to muddy up and create confusion to stretch it out for as long as possible.

 

loved the bit about foreign friends understanding, since when does a Thai government care what foreigners have to say and who exactly understood when ASEAN community is worried?

[Eligius]

53 minutes ago, neeray said:

"Why oh why do the Thais just go on taking all of this?"

I am happy they are "taking all this". But I am optimistic that they are "taking it all in" and will react appropriately at poll time (whenever that will be).

Sadly,  my friend, the 'poll' ('election') will be one giant fix, one giant fraud, one giant scam. How can it be otherwise when it is organised in every detail - including when and how the 'results' are announced - by criminals who have stolen the entire nation's rights and liberties. You think those criminals are suddenly going to become honest men of probity and integrity?!

 

Edited January 9, 2019 by Eligius

[Siripon]

It is a Royal Decree that has to be signed. Prayuth can do nothing until that has occurred.

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, BestB said:

I{snipped}

loved the bit about foreign friends understanding, since when does a Thai government care what foreigners have to say and who exactly understood when ASEAN community is worried?

They only care when it's agreeing with what they want to hear.

Otherwise, to quote another wise man: "The UN is not my father."

[BestB]

9 minutes ago, Siripon said:

It is a Royal Decree that has to be signed. Prayuth can do nothing until that has occurred.

It’s needs to be Fedexed to Germany to be signed, maybe P Prayut can not find nearest Fedex shop????

[Ossy]

Would you just look at that big girl’s blouse . . . what goes through this cretin’s mind as his dresser straightens his collar and fixes the flower?

As for his ‘special weapon’, Confusion, still holding the fort, GWASBINAP Prayuth*, might be winning this round but if he checked his window he’d see clouds - and crowds - of objection growing by the minute. The writing’s on the wall, pretty boy.

*General-Was-A-Soldier-But-Is-Now-A-Psycho, for the uninitiated.

[IamNoone88]

Thailand's political equivalent of a Meaningful Brexit vote .....   

[jaiyen]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

We can hope Colin. So far sadly, there don't seem to be enough people motivated to do much.

That is one thing he would be hoping for. If there was any kind of protest e.g. Rally by the people, he would immediately say that the election will be cancelled due to national security problems and that he must stay in power in order to protect the country !  The guy is a total ars**ole who has no respect or caring for the Thai people.

[Lupatria]

He’s is an example for what happens when self-indulgence, lack of self control, and incompetence unite with absolute power in one person.

[hobz]

1 hour ago, Eligius said:

So the daily insult to the Thai nation's intelligence continues. The junta and its leader cannot even be straightforward about their own change of plans!

 

Why oh why do the Thais just go on taking all of this? It is bitterly disappointing (to put it mildly). The Thai people really do deserve to win the 'Most Submissive and Obsequious People of the World' award!

Perhaps Thai people are not very intelligent? Or at least, Thai people are not educated enough to disect the lies and narrative, instead they are willfully ignorant or they see that even after removing this bufoon they know he will simply be replaced by a new bufoon ... I don't see much hope for Thailand in any near or mid term future. Why would they? 

[Cadbury]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

while claiming the international community understood the situation

He has told lies a number of times previously to the international community regarding the date of the election. Yes they understand all right; that he is living up to his reputation as Pinocchio. 

From a man who has normally had a lot to say about everything this nonsense is making him and the junta look the laughing stock of Thailand. They couldn't organise a kindergarten picnic. He should be ashamed of himself for the hurt he is doing to the people of Thailand. 

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, hobz said:

Perhaps Thai people are not very intelligent? Or at least, Thai people are not educated enough to disect the lies and narrative, instead they are willfully ignorant or they see that even after removing this bufoon they know he will simply be replaced by a new bufoon ... I don't see much hope for Thailand in any near or mid term future. Why would they? 

Is this the current buffoon on a good day?

[Eligius]

13 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

He’s is an example for what happens when self-indulgence, lack of self control, and incompetence unite with absolute power in one person.

Lupatria, you forgot to list all his million other sterling qualities!

[Lupatria]

4 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Lupatria, you forgot to list all his million other sterling qualities!

You are right. However, my application for a second lifetime is still in process

[sammieuk1]

When you have a ring that big no need for an election ????