PM Abhisit: Possible House Dissolution In April

[webfact]

PM: Possible House dissolution in April

BANGKOK, Jan 26 - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday said the dissolution of Thailand’s Parliament in April could be possible after the charter amendment process is completed and political demonstrations are peaceful.

The prime minister revealed his plan to dissolve the lower house after the joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday passed the second reading by 298-211 votes of the bill proposing 375 MPs from single-MP constituencies and 125 from party lists. Its third reading is set for Feb 11.

Mr Abhisit reminded the public of his three preconditions for the House dissolution including the country' improving economy, the progress on charter amendment and political stability.

As the charter amendment process has progressed, the premier said he expects consideration of the amendments will conclude Feb 11 and the law should take effect at the end of February or early March.

Mr Abhisit noted that, apart from the charter amendment, he must assess the situation regarding the political demonstrations by any group to see they are peaceful and orderly.

"If there is no problem, it is possible that Parliament will be dissolved in April," the prime minister stated.

The Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) pledged to protest against the Abhisit administration once a month in Bangkok's prime commercial area of Ratchaprasong, while its rival the Yellow Shirts threatened to prolong their protest at Government House until the premier responds to their demands on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.

Mr Abhisit however said that concerned agencies are monitoring many ill-intended groups who remain at large to prevent any untoward incident, while denying that Monday's arrest of five bomb suspects with bombs and a large amount of ammunition near Government House was a set-up. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-26

[hammered]

It keeps the PTP on their toes. Currently they have no leader and the divisions over who will lead could split it. They cant get too close to an election without a leader. The government are playing all kinds of mind games and quite confident in their own electoral chances. The PTP side and more to the point Thaksin needs something dramatic right now, and they will seriously be hoping April is not the real time of an election.

[nong38]

If April is the disolution time am I correct in thinking that it is then 60 days to the election which would make it some time in June?

[animatic]

It also precludes the annual April riots and crazy demos.

If the election can be canceled for unrest, then it finally means a relatively calm spring for a change.

[asiawatcher]

With Reds and Yellows continuing to protest and demonstrate then it creates a dilemma. If he dissolves then the country has no ruling body and both colours will applaud their victory yet no one is right or successful. But will they continue to demonstrate in a lawless manner of seizure of the city or will they actually then go home and allow 'democratic' votes to voice their decision? On the other hand is the PM really going to leave the country in the hands of the military and the police by dissolving Parliament? Interesting....

Edited January 27, 2011 by asiawatcher

[webfact]

EC Prepared for Election in April

The National Election Commission is prepared to hold the next General Election once the House is dissolved, which could be as early as April.

National Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayatham said of Prime Minister Abhsit Vejjajiva's comment that he could call for the next General Election without having the current charter changes approved, that the commission is prepared to hold the ballot even if the House is dissolved as early as April.

Sodsri has reaffirmed that even though the charter changes have yet to be approved by the lawmakers, the commission could use the existing regulations to oversee the election.

The commission has prepared a set of regulations, which are different from those in the bill, to hold the election if needed.

However, if the charter changes are approved, the regulations prepared by the commission will not be used in the next election.

Sodsri believes that if the prime minister can contain the political situation, the House will not be dissolved earlier than anticipated.

She expects the next election will be held at the end of the year, but she added that it could be held as early as April or May, if the political situation escalates.

She said the commission will try to avoid holding an election during the Songkran Festival in April, because it would be difficult to distinguish gifts from vote-buying attempts.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-27

[hammered]

With Reds and Yellows continuing to protest and demonstrate then it creates a dilemma. If he dissolves then the country has no ruling body and both colours will applaud their victory yet no one is right or successful. But will they continue to demonstrate in a lawless manner of seizure of the city or will they actually then go home and allow 'democratic' votes to voice their decision? On the other hand is the PM really going to leave the country in the hands of the military and the police by dissolving Parliament? Interesting....

If the house is disolved the government continues to run the country until the election. That is no different from now except it is technically in a caretaker role. All that happens is that parliament is disolved meaning no new legislation is possible.

[coma]

Umm! If the yellow shirts continue to rally all the way through to April, then there will be no dissolution of the current government . Therefore Mark and the boys gets to stay where they are a bit longer. Conveniant.