Thai PM Abhisit Says No Delay To Election Announcement

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Thai PM says no delay to election announcement

BANGKOK, May 4, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister on Wednesday ruled out any delay to his plan to dissolve parliament this week for the country's first election since deadly protests rocked Bangkok last year.

"There is no change. I will submit the royal decree to the king in the first week of May," Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.

Earlier Wednesday his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban said the date for dissolving the lower house ahead of an anticipated late June or early July poll could be pushed back as three election laws had yet to be finalised.

By law the polls must be held between 45 and 60 days after house dissolution.

Abhisit is expected to call the election on May 6, but his deputy said the dissolution might be put on hold until after the Constitutional Court considered the laws on Monday, May 9.

Suthep had admitted, however, that he was unsure of the precise dissolution date.

"One minister asked the prime minister last night at the cabinet meeting when he will dissolve the house and he told him to listen to the announcement on the radio," Suthep said.

The laws have already been adopted by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Thailand's election is expected to be close-fought and comes at a time of heightened political sensitivity for the country, which remains deeply divided a year after opposition rallies by the "Red Shirt" movement.

The protests sparked the worst political violence in decades, leaving more than 90 people dead in clashes between demonstrators and armed troops in Bangkok.

Thailand is also embroiled in a tense border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. The conflict, which appears to be calming, has killed 18 people and caused thousands to flee their homes for several days.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-05

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POLITICS

PM quite sure House can be dissolved this week

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has confirmed that the House would be dissolved by the end of this week, even though there have been some suggestions that it should be postponed.

"Nothing has changed or affected my promise. I think I can still do it," Abhisit said in response to two senior government figures voicing concerns over the rush to dissolve the House.

The premier denied he had discussed the issue with the Election Commission and set the polling date as June 26. However, he said there should be no violence during the upcoming elections because otherwise this society could not be considered democratic.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had suggested earlier that House dissolution should be postponed by a few days because the government should wait for the three organic laws up for deliberation by the Constitution Court. The court is scheduled to consider the laws on Monday.

Suthep said he hoped the court ruled on the laws before Abhisit dissolves the House, so the EC can use these laws to manage the election, otherwise the EC would have to issue its own regulations for the election.

"A delay of one or two days [for House dissolution] should not be a problem. It would be good if it is dissolved after all transitional steps are completed," he said.

If the court rules on the laws on Monday, then they can be sent over for royal endorsement in the evening, he said. Then the House could be dissolved on Monday itself or early on Tuesday.

However, Suthep said that though he had not discussed the issue with the prime minister yet, he believed Abhisit would consider all legal aspects before deciding what can and cannot be done. He added that postponing the dissolution would not create any uncertainty in the field of politics because it was clear that the country is heading for an election.

"We are just waiting to see what date [between June 26 and July 3] the premier picks for the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, Banharn Silpa-archa, chief adviser to Chart Thai Pattana Party, has voiced concerns about whether it is appropriate for the prime minister to seek an endorsement for House dissolution, especially since His Majesty has just undergone surgery.

"Is it necessary to do this right now? Breaking the PM's promise and postponing the dissolution is not a life and death situation," he said, adding that all political parties would be fine if the dissolution was delayed by seven days.

-- The Nation 2011-05-05