PM Yingluck seeks House dissolution

[webfact]

POLITICS
Yingluck announces House Dissolution
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday said she already sought royal approval for House dissolution to return power to people and to solve the ongoing political conflicts.

Therefore, a national election will be held accordingly, she said. Speaking at special broadcast at 9.42am, Yingluck said her government has tried its best to settle the conflicts and to talk to anti-government protesters who demanded what she described as not allowed by the laws and the constitution.

"At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, They claimed to represent people. Therefore, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election.

So the Thai people will decide," she said.

The announcement came as as thousands of protesters are marching to the Government House and took place one day after opposition Democrat Party MPs resigned en masse.

She said the ongoing protests put the country into dilemma. She said the Cabinet members will also be dissolved but they will remain the acting government which will have authority to do jobs as allowed by the laws.


-- The Nation 2013-12-09

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Thai PM announces House dissolution, calls snap election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 9 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday announced the dissolution of the lower house of parliament, saying she wants to return power to the people amid the ongoing political conflict.

The decision came one day after the mass resignation of the main opposition Democrat Party MPs on Sunday and less than an hour ahead of the beginning of the anti-government protesters began marching to the premier's office at Government House from nine locations across the capital.

The prime minister, in her televised address this morning, announced that she would dissolve the House of Representatives and will meet with the Election Commission to discuss holding a general election as soon as possible. The cabinet will act as a caretaker until the new cabinet is formed.

"The government has exhausted every means to solve the country's political conflict but to no avail. The anti-government group and members of the opposition party opt to use non-parliamentary means instead. The government has however implemented leniency in regards to the basic rights of people to prevent loss and avoid hurting the nation. Therefore the return of power to the people through a House dissolution and snap elections is [in accord with] democratic principles and internationally accepted," Ms Yingluck said.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban earlier asserted that today is the day for the Thai people’s victory, the crucial day of anti-government march and has reassured the protesters that they will not return home empty-handed.

Mr Suthep said the goal of the anti-government protest is to eradicate the Thaksin regime and create
an unelected "People's Council" representing people from all walks of life and professions to run the country.

Despite the premier's announcement of a House dissolution and general election, former Democrat MP and one of the protest leaders Sathit Wongnongtoey told a crowd of protesters at Ratchadamnoen this morning that the protest will go on as the Cabinet still acts in a caretaker capacity.

Therefore the Thaksin regime still exists, he asserted. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-09

[briboy]

does that mean that all cards are off the table, no return of the amnesty bill etc?

[ricku]

What does this mean?

End of protests?

Edited December 9, 2013 by ricku

[webfact]

Thai PM says parliament to be dissolved

BANGKOK, December 9, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced early Monday that parliament would be dissolved as anti-government protesters kicked off a major rally in the capital.

"After consultation with many parties, I have submitted a royal decree requesting parliament be dissolved," she said in a nationally televised speech.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-09

[cacruden]

Yay! Exactly what Suthep said he did not want

[whatsupdoc]

The right thing to do!

[MaxLee]

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

This won't be her decision, as we all know,...

[96tehtarp]

The new elections will of course include a referendum on the constitutional amendment changing the makeup of the senate and the amnesty bill.

Let the sovereign Thai people vote democratically according to the constitution !

Now, who will be the first to step up to the podium and say "Yes, but some are more entitled to their sovereignty than others." ?

Edited December 9, 2013 by 96tehtarp

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

She still needs to take a big step and resign from politics. She has to admit that she put the interests of her brother before the interests of the nation.

[englishoak]

Bishop to k3 takes knight check

D for dissolution Day ?

Edited December 9, 2013 by englishoak

[apetley]

The right thing to do! 

Agree but I hope everyone does not regret it not being called two weeks ago.

[Jip99]

Smart move by her brother,

Wipe the slate clean, get re-elected, start a fresh agenda

[pumpuiman]

Damn smart move, dousing the flames.

[Local Drunk]

Smart move by her brother,

Wipe the slate clean, get re-elected, start a fresh agenda

It won't be an easy election for them... they will have to explain too many things they've done.

[cacruden]

Does this not seem like deja vu. Democrats resign, election called, democrats boycott -- coup?

Any bill that is in progress dies.

Since Amnesty was off the table, it will not be on the election platform.

Anyone know if an elected Senate can be put to a referendum? What did the constitutional court say?

Is Suthep willing to put his appointed peoples council up for a referendum -- he has previously said a referendum after that - not for that. Personally I doubt it a big defeat would be a loss of face.

Edited December 9, 2013 by cacruden

[webfact]

Thai PBS

PMs address

[BKKBrit]

Yet again, her brother has outwitted Suthep. The pictures of their million-man march this morning proved what most of the Bangkokians I know have been saying for more than a week now..people are bored of this and Suthep has been out-manoeuvred at every turn and it's time for him to go home....better yet, turn himself in.

Edited December 9, 2013 by BKKBrit

[Local Drunk]

My advice to the protesters is to keep marching...

[Emptyset]

does that mean that all cards are off the table, no return of the amnesty bill etc?

Yep.

[winstonc]

She still needs to take a big step and resign from politics. She has to admit that she put the interests of her brother before the interests of the nation.

shes thai ..have they ever admitted they do anything wrong..not just her ..its one nation in denial of anything with a huge emphacise on..responisibility...the whole country needs to grow up....not in our lifetime...its the biggest playground in the world....and no-one sharing their toys...

[BKKBrit]

My advice to the protesters is to keep marching...

And achieve what?

[cacruden]

I think he was being facetious.... as in march all the way home or "outta there"

[webfact]

Thai PM says elections to be held 'as soon as possible'

BANGKOK, December 9, 2013 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced Monday she would call a general election "as soon as possible" in an attempt to resolve the political crisis gripping the country.

"The government does not want any loss of life," she said in a nationally televised speech, as anti-government demonstrators began another major street rally in the capital amid fears of fresh violence. "I will consult with the Election Commission to set up the election date as soon as possible."


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-09

[EyesWideOpen]

Sigh..........New elections are held, Thaksin clone number 4 wins due to vote buying, and the whole vicious cycle starts

all over again. If Yingluck is offering to step down, I am sure that Thaksin has decided he can win the next election.

Otherwise he would not have instructed Yingluck to do this move. Thailand is not ready for democracy, so am

not really sure what the alternatives are.

[Emptyset]

Smart move by her brother,

Wipe the slate clean, get re-elected, start a fresh agenda

It won't be an easy election for them... they will have to explain too many things they've done.

It won't be an easy election for the Democrats if they persist with these tactics. Thais - it used to be said, and it's still true to an extent I reckon - are instinctively conservative and are quick to turn against political protesters, even if they're in the right. That's how the Democrats actually won the 1992 election, by NOT being part of the protests. Chuan said that he stood for democracy, but not chaos and that he believed in the parliamentary system. Chamlong lost out because he was perceived to be one of those who created a chaotic situation, despite the fact that his actions were thought to be heroic by many.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

This won't be her decision, as we all know,...

[EyesWideOpen]

does that mean that all cards are off the table, no return of the amnesty bill etc?

Yep.

Sure ?? I thought the amnesty bill was headed back to the house in 180 days. Where it may or may not pass.

Oh wait , last time it passed by 315 to zero. Guess that means it will pass again ??

[brewsterbudgen]

Good for her. I may well be wrong but I would like to think support for her in the country at large has increased following the fiascos of the last few weeks.

[Local Drunk]

My advice to the protesters is to keep marching...

And achieve what?

Well, how about something for all of Thailand. Real change.

[cacruden]

PTP wins because of demographics controlling the largest regional block. Vote buying exists on both sides but it did not swing the election. It is just an excuse to demean a whole cross section of voters and that is why they cannot get their votes... their not that stupid to know what is being said about them.