Thaksin Says He Wants Earlier General Election

[george]

Thai PM says he wants earlier general election

Bangkok: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday he was bringing forward the next general election earlier than scheduled in February but he did not say exactly when it would be.

"I have requested the Election Committee to call the next general election earlier," Thaksin told reporters from Narathiwat province, where he held a meeting with officials over security issues in southern Thailand.

"For the sake of the country, it should not be too long. Politics is related with security and the three southern provinces. The sooner we have the election, the better."

Having an earlier election does not necessarily guarantee his Thai Rak Thai party will have an edge over its competitors, Thaksin said.

"The government can choose to dissolve the parliament. But we are not doing so and every party will have enough time to prepare themselves for the election."

Thaksin said while no election date has been set, it would be sooner than the Election Committee's scheduled date of February 13, which is when the prime minister's term expires.

--Reuters 2004-11-27

[dugdig]

I'll state the obvious here: Most politicians want earlier elections when they see their popularity dropping.

[marquess]

Or could it be that if the elections take place earlier then he is likely to get a larger majority?

[stumonster]

"For the sake of the country, it should not be too long. Politics is related with security and the three southern provinces. The sooner we have the election, the better."

not being cynical or anything , but did any reporter ask him how the fuel subsidy was progressing

[dr_Pat_Pong]

"For the sake of the country, it should not be too long. Politics is related with security and the three southern provinces. The sooner we have the election, the better."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

not being cynical or anything , but did any reporter ask him how the fuel subsidy was progressing

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Something is up. He was ( until very recently ) almost obsessed with the idea of going full term too.

[sua yai]

Don't lose sight of the fact that the system of government in Thailand is, in some ways, similar to the UK.

Ie, the ruling party does not have to serve it's term of office out. It can call elections whenever it sees fit.

Popularity stakes. And what ever happened to that good old word - gerrymandering? (sic).

[george]

Election day to be brought forward ‘for national benefit’

NARATHIWAT, Nov 28, (TNA) – Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced yesterday that he had proposed bringing forward the date of the next general election in order to prevent ‘political games’ which were serving to bruise the nation.

The prime minister said that he had sent off clear signals that the earlier the election, the more that country would benefit. Warning that a drawn-out election campaign would lead to the nation slowing down, he dismissed suggestions that an early election date was designed to catch the Opposition by surprise, saying that the Opposition had already made plans for the upcoming poll.

“There are lots of underground political games going on, whether in documents or CDs. These are damaging the country. Politics are bruising the country. Having a short election campaign would be good”, he said.

However, he conceded that it was up to the Election Commission (EC) to decide whether or not to accept his request for an early election date.

--TNA 2004-11-28

[george]

Opposition urges EC not to change election date

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party today attacked Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on his alleged interference by asking the Election Commission (EC) to call the next general election earlier.

Mr. Thavorn Senniam, a Democrat deputy secretary-general, said the prime minister was probably concerned that his ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party might not gain majority seats as his popularity had dwindled steadily after the Democrat Party and others had informed the public about the failure of the government, which had also created a lot of curruptions.

This may have prompted the prime minister to send a signal to the EC to set an election date earlier than scheduled, he said.

The prime minister should stop interfering with the EC, and the latter must be strong and independent, said Mr. Thavorn.

Most importantly, the EC should adhere to the scheduled election date, which is 13 February, 2005, as it has to also prepare for measures to prevent election frauds and launching campaigns to inform voters to exercise their rights on the election day, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin today denied press reports on the government's alleged allocation of 40 billion baht to CEO governors as an aim for canvassing of votes ahead of the next general election, saying that the money would be given out from the government's budget surplus and is badly needed by people in provincial areas.

"The government's budget for the 2005 fiscal year, which began on 1 October, 2004, is expected to be a balanced one, and government revenues are now expected to surpass what was earlier targeted, So the government has decided to spend the expected surplus amount on provincial projects, said Mr. Thaksin during his weekly radio address this morning.

Some newspapers reported that the government had planned to give away the money before the next general election although budget for huge expenses would, normally, have to be allocated in April, or during the middle of any fiscal year.

Questions have been raised whether this amount of budget is too high, he said, adding that the budget of 40 billion baht would be handed out on a

trial basis and at the ratio of 150,000 population per 100 million baht.

The size of the budget to be given will depend on the number of population in each province so that full development in that particular province

could be achieved, he noted.

The poverty problem could be addressed only if cruxes in the areas are totally solved, and the taxpayers' money would be spent in order to obtain full results, he added.

--TNA 2004-11-28

[toastwars]

It sounds to me like Thaksin knows that something is about to blow up in his face. He wants the security of re-election before this happens. My guess is the tak bai vcd that is doing the rounds, once that spreads to BKK he is going to have to face some difficult question that would probably lose him an election if he hangs around. He is acting like a man on thin ice desperatly looking for firmer ground

[marquess]

There must be a reason, but the question is, what is it?!

[ovenman]

My guess is that this is merely an attempt to throw the opposition off balance. Even so, assuming this all comes to pass as Mr. Big desires, it won't really move the elections up all that much from the original presumed timetable. If the elections were held as assumed on 13 February, that's only a little over two months from now. How much could the election realistically be moved up by?

[george]

Ruling party defends its call for an earlier election

BANGKOK: -- Senior members of the ruling party, Thai Rak Thai, has defended Prime Minister Thaskin Shinawatra’s proposal to bring forward the date of the next general election to avoid causing a “political vacuum” that could hurt the nation.

“The Thai Rak Thai did not interfere with the duties of the Election Commission (EC). The prime minister’s proposal aims to deal with the possible political turmoil during the vacuum of power,” the party’s deputy leader, Sudarat Keyarapand, told TNA.

She dismissed allegations by the Democrats that it was an attempt by the ruling party to catch the opposition by surprise.

Mrs. Sudarat, who is also a director of the party’s electoral campaigns in the capital, was confident of the party's victory in Bangkok though many academics have forecast that the Thai Rak Thai would lose many of its seats in Bangkok because of the party’s declining popularity.

“We still believe we can win the 28 seats we currently hold in the forthcoming general election. We will work harder to win in nine other districts where have never won before,” she said.

If the EC agrees to move the election date forward, it will only be by a week or two as required by law, said Justice Minister Mr. Pongthep Thepkanjana, a founding member of the Thai Rak Thai Party.

Therefore, the ruling party will not gain much of an advantage.

Every party knows that the House of Representatives will be adjourned on 5 January and all parties have been preparing for the general election for several months now.

--TNA 2004-11-29

[george]

Govt criticized for trying to change the election date

BANGKOK: -- The leader of the main opposition Democrat Party has attacked the government for proposing to bring the date of the next general election forward by two weeks.

The government should be more generous and fair to other political parties, the Democrat leader, Banyat Bantadthan, said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, through his radio programme on Saturday mornings, can access millions of voters in only one hour, while other political parties do not have same access to the mass media, he pointed out.

“The government thinks that an earlier election might be better for it because it fears a lose of popularity in the face of other political parties’ campaigns,” he said.

He also urged the Election Commission (EC), as an independent organisation, to be fair and not swayed by the government.

"However, if the government really wants to bring forward the election date, it should dissolve the House before it four-year term ends of 5 January, 2005", said Mr. Banyat.

Prime Minister Thaksin has reiterated that he will not dissolve the House, but will remain in office until his first four-year term officially ends.

Mr. Banyat also dismissed allegations by the ruling party, Thai Rak Thai (TRT), that the removal of party campaign placards from Bangkok streets by the

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was a political ploy by the Democrats, suggesting that the city authorities designate sites where the campaign placards could be placed.

The Democrats control the Bangkok city administration after their landslide victory in the election for governor in August.

The clean up of all parties' campaign placards by last night was ordered by the new Bangkok governor, Apirak Kosayothin, who claimed that Bangkok residents had complained about the untidiness of the placards and signs which blocked their views of streets.

--TNA 2004-11-30

[Backpack_thailand]

There must be a reason, but the question is, what is it?!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Simple really, Old Thaksin is trying to prove to the world that he is a major world figure (which we all know he's not!). It's an ego thing...

The thinking is that he already knows he's going to win as there's no decent, credible opposition and is jumping on the coat tails of Mssrs. Bush, Howard & Blair who by this time next year will all have been re-elected.

Between the Bush victory and the Blair victory next year, little old Thaksin slots into the middle and gets a mention during this political season!

He might be a bit of a &lt;deleted&gt;, but he's certainly not an idiot!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

There must be a reason, but the question is, what is it?!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Simple really, Old Thaksin is trying to prove to the world that he is a major world figure (which we all know he's not!). It's an ego thing...

The thinking is that he already knows he's going to win as there's no decent, credible opposition and is jumping on the coat tails of Mssrs. Bush, Howard & Blair who by this time next year will all have been re-elected.

Between the Bush victory and the Blair victory next year, little old Thaksin slots into the middle and gets a mention during this political season!

He might be a bit of a &lt;deleted&gt;, but he's certainly not an idiot!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dr Toxin's plane is newer than Dubya's so there.

[stumonster]

Dr Toxin's plane is newer than Dubya's so there. 

it won't be if the prawn farmers get hold of it.......burn baby burn

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Dr Toxin's plane is newer than Dubya's so there.  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it won't be if the prawn farmers get hold of it.......burn baby burn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh that's why he has hidden the bloody thing then

[timonase]

as simlpe as that!

earlier elections, less time for the opposition to prepare!

well, i guess they wouldnt be later, either!!