Democrat leader Abhisit predicts rocky election on Feb 2

[webfact]

Democrat leader predicts rocky election on Feb 2
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 18 - Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

Expressing pessimism against the snap poll, he predicted that the election will neither be smooth nor contribute to political reform, indicating that the election will instead trigger problems.

“The point is not whether political parties boycott the election or not. The concern now is people will refuse to go to the poll,” he said.

He said Thailand’s political disputes will never be solved as long as ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra refuses to abide by the Thai laws.

“People do not believe the election will be held fairly. Why does Thai society debate on whether the election should be held before or after national reform? The February 2 election will not be smooth,” he said.

He said the Democrat Party and the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) do not object to an election and the government agrees with reform but “it is the government started the entire entanglement.”

Mr Abhisit said the caretaker government and the Election Commission will have to jointly solve the crisis and earn the people’s trust for a fair election, otherwise people will walk away from the Constitution.

The easiest way is the government relinquishes the caretaker role before it is too late, he warned, adding that the government must clearly explain on what it will do if it is really keen on national reform.

Vichai Assarasakorn, vice president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said this is the first time (in Thai history) that the private sector plays a role in helping solve political conflicts.

Describing the present political situation as volatile, he said he does not object to an election but he does not have faith in the agreement (for a reform after the election).

“There are many reasons that cast doubts. It’s necessary to create confidence among the people,” he said.(MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-18

[Thait Spot]

That's a lot more eloquent and articulately put than little miss "I came from elections"

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Zolt]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

It's not "an insistence". The caretaker government has no say on what date the election is going to be held.

It is the Election Commission who sets the date of the election, and even they are not sure if it can legally be postponed. The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that.

Here's a good piece on the legal aspects involved:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117342/can-the-election-be-delayed/

And on the dilemma that Abhisit faces:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117348/thailands-democrat-party-still-undecided-to-join-elections/

[webfact]

POLITICS
Snap poll should be delayed : Democrat leader


File photo : Abhisit//photo by Watcharachai Klaipong)

BANGKOK: -- The election should be delayed as the current atmosphere is not conducive and people have doubts about the government's use of power, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.

The legitimacy of the election is not about whether the Democrats will run in the election but whether the people will boycott the election," he said.

People want national reform of several different aspects, not just the election, he added. He said Yingluck should quickly consult with the Election Commission and decide to postpone the February 2 election. There must be legal solutions that allows such a postponement.


-- The Nation 2013-12-18

[MobileContent]

Abhisit wants to swing back in power and if the election goes ahead he predicts violence and I guess the same violence he and his DPM in charge of security done several years ago. If they do not want to participate in the election fine.

Suthep first of all should introduce his 400 people People's Committee of which 300 will be appointed by Suthep and his cronies and those 400 people need to be scrutinized until the bones. I guess 10-20% will be retired army generals, 20% PAD and the remaining people close to the Democrat Party including certainly some financiers that bankrolled it all.

The reds will have no say at all but they won the election so Mark should go back to the UK, Suthep either join him or go back to Samui.

Their will be elections. I would suggest that PDRC set up a own political party and lets see how many votes they get. This has nothing to do with vote buying but some power hungry folks that one to try it via a one way street. My guess PDRC 20%, Democrats 15% if their are two parties running.

Its time for the army to step in and send Suthep back to Surat Thani.

[soi41]

So little Mark wants election when the democrats have a chance of winning, without help from their friends in the legal system?

Well I guess he will have to wait another 50 years??

[Thailand]

Running scared!

[FangFerang]

He said the Democrat Party and the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) do not object to an election and the government agrees with reform but “it is the government started the entire entanglement.”

He is correct. I do no take sides, but he is correct. The minority of the electors need to have some voice in at least the large debates (national budget, rice schemes and all that).

I think Suphet is a loon, but even a loon can have insights.

I am like most ex-pats here. I just want to see an equilibrium found. The sad part is that our own home countries have never found equilibrium. The US government was shut down, the British government has no problems (of course), but the rest of the free world is struggling with this same problem. Conservatives and liberals never really negotiate--they just deal with the current crisis and go on refusing to share power.

Sometimes I think we all are some else's robots.

Edited December 18, 2013 by FangFerang

[englishoak]

"There must be legal solutions that allows such a postponement." he should know after being installed as the unelected PM and stalling for a few years.

[thairookie]

Abhisit wants Yingluck to make the decision for Democrats.

The Democrats do not have the balls to tell their supporters that they do NOT intend to stand in Election, and likewise don't have the courage to tell the PDRC that they want to stand in Election. Like I said, the Democrats are caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea.

So the best way is to push the buck to Yingluck and let Yingluck make the decision for the Democrats.

[Baerboxer]

"There must be legal solutions that allows such a postponement." he should know after being installed as the unelected PM and stalling for a few years.

Why not check the process by which PMs come to office in Thailand before posting drivel.

[waza]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

It's not "an insistence". The caretaker government has no say on what date the election is going to be held.

It is the Election Commission who sets the date of the election, and even they are not sure if it can legally be postponed. The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that.

Here's a good piece on the legal aspects involved:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117342/can-the-election-be-delayed/

And on the dilemma that Abhisit faces:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117348/thailands-democrat-party-still-undecided-to-join-elections/

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

[kingalfred]

So little Mark wants election when the democrats have a chance of winning, without help from their friends in the legal system?

Well I guess he will have to wait another 50 years??

and you want your squalid corrupt takky the puppet sibling and PTP cronies for 50 years.well civil war will result if they continue

[sjaak327]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

It's not "an insistence". The caretaker government has no say on what date the election is going to be held.

It is the Election Commission who sets the date of the election, and even they are not sure if it can legally be postponed. The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that.

Here's a good piece on the legal aspects involved:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117342/can-the-election-be-delayed/

And on the dilemma that Abhisit faces:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117348/thailands-democrat-party-still-undecided-to-join-elections/

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

The coup was executed just three weeks before the elections were scheduled. Guess the militairy didn't know what everyone else in the country did know...

If the democrats hadn't boycotted the elections in the first place, the elections that were scheduled just after the coup, would't have been necessary. Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ? Maybe the democrats could do it again and hope for another coup ?

Edited December 18, 2013 by sjaak327

[englishoak]

"There must be legal solutions that allows such a postponement." he should know after being installed as the unelected PM and stalling for a few years.

Why not check the process by which PMs come to office in Thailand before posting drivel.

I don't have to I was here when it happened

[Jay Sata]

My mother in law is looking forward to her usual 400 baht. She takes 200 from a couple of parties.

That's how Thailand works.

Money makes the world go round and the Democrats should just wait until the economy implodes with 5 years estimated to sell their rice stockpile and no buyers plus the agricultural bank on the verge of collapse.

There will be a lot of angry Red shirts when the money stops flowing.

[waza]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

It's not "an insistence". The caretaker government has no say on what date the election is going to be held.

It is the Election Commission who sets the date of the election, and even they are not sure if it can legally be postponed. The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that.

Here's a good piece on the legal aspects involved:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117342/can-the-election-be-delayed/

And on the dilemma that Abhisit faces:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117348/thailands-democrat-party-still-undecided-to-join-elections/

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

The coup was executed just three weeks before the elections were scheduled. Guess the militairy didn't know what everyone else in the country did know...

If the democrats hadn't boycotted the elections in the first place, the elections that were scheduled just after the coup, would't have been necessary. Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ? Maybe the democrats could do it again and hope for another coup ?

If Thaksin hadn't dissolved his government there wouldn't have been a 2006 election to start with. Then if his government hadn't committed electoral fraud in the next election then they would never had been disqualified.

However you spin it there was still 6 month between the boycotted election and the coup, which as your buddy zolt said, "The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that."

" Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ?"

Edited December 18, 2013 by waza

[sjaak327]

If Thaksin hadn't dissolved his government there wouldn't have been a 2006 election to start with. Then if his government hadn't committed electoral fraud in the next election then they would never had been disqualified.

However you spin it there was still 6 month between the boycotted election and the coup, which as your buddy zolt said, "The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that."

" Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ?"

You were pretending the coup was executed due to Thaksin not calling elections when in fact these elections were scheduled 20 odds days after the coup. The fact that these were not within 60 days of the house dissolution is true, but doesn't change the fact that they were scheduled. The democrats cannot be clear of blame for that episode either by the way. Again, they might try to pull that stunt again, a coup is vastly better than having large amount of Thais voting for the other side right, uneducated, vote buying and all that other nonsense.

The big question here is why Mark wants to postpone the elections, surely a care taker government cannot change the constitution, Sutheps council doesn't have the required electoral mandate, so that is out without any doubt. So why does he want to delay the elections ? Why not campaign on a reform agenda, try to gather enough mandate and change the constitution via democratic means. Surely the democrats could win an elections, according to Suthep millions of Thai are fed up, seems to me a great chance to do away with the looser sticker Mark has attached to him.

Edited December 18, 2013 by sjaak327

[Tatsujin]

If Thaksin hadn't dissolved his government there wouldn't have been a 2006 election to start with. Then if his government hadn't committed electoral fraud in the next election then they would never had been disqualified.

However you spin it there was still 6 month between the boycotted election and the coup, which as your buddy zolt said, "The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that."

" Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ?"

You were pretending the coup was executed due to Thaksin not calling elections when in fact these elections were scheduled 20 odds days after the coup. The fact that these were not within 60 days of the house dissolution is true, but doesn't change the fact that they were scheduled. The democrats cannot be clear of blame for that episode either by the way. Again, they might try to pull that stunt again, a coup is vastly better than having large amount of Thais voting for the other side right, uneducated, vote buying and all that other nonsense.

The big question here is why Mark wants to postpone the elections, surely a care taker government cannot change the constitution, Sutheps council doesn't have the required electoral mandate, so that is out without any doubt. So why does he want to delay the elections ? Why not campaign on a reform agenda, try to gather enough mandate and change the constitution via democratic means. Surely the democrats could win an elections, according to Suthep millions of Thai are fed up, seems to me a great chance to do away with the looser sticker Mark has attached to him.

Why do they want to postpone elections? Well, if you read between the lines, and perhaps look at the bigger picture, probably one of the reasons is the rice farmers have not yet been paid and there is no money to do so. That's a large voting populace that will very soon become pissed off and "might" then shift allegiance to another party. Another reason is the longer it drags on, the more likely that the Armed Forces will become involved. There are more reasons, but you get the picture. It's not all black and white.

[Chupup]

However you look at it, an election without reform serves no purpose so reform first, if not and should the "shinawata" government regain power," (judging from their performance over the last two years) all the protests will start over, just my opinion............

[whybother]

"There must be legal solutions that allows such a postponement." he should know after being installed as the unelected PM and stalling for a few years.

Blame the then PTP acting PM for not calling an election. Instead he went for to parliament to elect a new PM, which is when Abhisit was elected. BTW, that is how Somchai got elected. I didn't see any red shirt supporters calling for immediate elections then.

[whybother]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned today that an insistence for a general election on February 2 may lead to violence and that the government should resign before it is too late.

It's not "an insistence". The caretaker government has no say on what date the election is going to be held.

It is the Election Commission who sets the date of the election, and even they are not sure if it can legally be postponed. The constitution states it should be held within 60 days of the dissolution and there's no clear way around that.

Here's a good piece on the legal aspects involved:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117342/can-the-election-be-delayed/

And on the dilemma that Abhisit faces:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117348/thailands-democrat-party-still-undecided-to-join-elections/

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

The coup was executed just three weeks before the elections were scheduled. Guess the militairy didn't know what everyone else in the country did know...

If the democrats hadn't boycotted the elections in the first place, the elections that were scheduled just after the coup, would't have been necessary. Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ? Maybe the democrats could do it again and hope for another coup ?

The scheduled October 2006 elections (closer to 4 weeks after the coup) would probably have been postponed again because the new Election Commission weren't ready.

[MaxLee]

Abhisit, a man who is hiding behind Suthep's back, while he led the Anti-government protests, this is ridiculous.

Abhisit, the coward...

[tingtongteesood]

Abhisit wants to swing back in power and if the election goes ahead he predicts violence and I guess the same violence he and his DPM in charge of security done several years ago. If they do not want to participate in the election fine.

Suthep first of all should introduce his 400 people People's Committee of which 300 will be appointed by Suthep and his cronies and those 400 people need to be scrutinized until the bones. I guess 10-20% will be retired army generals, 20% PAD and the remaining people close to the Democrat Party including certainly some financiers that bankrolled it all.

The reds will have no say at all but they won the election so Mark should go back to the UK, Suthep either join him or go back to Samui.

Their will be elections. I would suggest that PDRC set up a own political party and lets see how many votes they get. This has nothing to do with vote buying but some power hungry folks that one to try it via a one way street. My guess PDRC 20%, Democrats 15% if their are two parties running.

Its time for the army to step in and send Suthep back to Surat Thani.

I am getting really fed up with all the red misted drivel on this forum of late. I wish there was an 'ignore reds' button I could press...

[ratcatcher]

I'm curious now.

"The reds will have no say at all but they won the election so Mark should go back to the UK, Suthep either join him or go back to Samui."

Why should Abhisit have to go to the U.K.? He is a Thai citizen with both parents being Thai.

[Emptyset]

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

The coup was executed just three weeks before the elections were scheduled. Guess the militairy didn't know what everyone else in the country did know...

If the democrats hadn't boycotted the elections in the first place, the elections that were scheduled just after the coup, would't have been necessary. Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ? Maybe the democrats could do it again and hope for another coup ?

The scheduled October 2006 elections (closer to 4 weeks after the coup) would probably have been postponed again because the new Election Commission weren't ready.

Waza also failed to mention this. The way he put it, you'd think Thaksin kept postponing elections for his own benefits, rather than due to a situation that was out of his hands at that point. Whether Thaksin was right to call the 2006 election is a different issue (of course in retrospect it's one of the most stupid moves he's ever made) - but I noticed the same poster, Waza, was praising Chuan the other day for dissolving house after the corruption allegations against Suthep. And of course he did that because he wanted to avoid a no confidence debate...

If he used consistent standards, he'd be praising Thaksin, not criticizing him. He handed power back to the people! lol. He's also wrong about the TRT's 'electoral fraud', that was nothing to do with why the election wasn't held. TRT weren't dissolved until 2007.

[waza]

How bazzar, when Thaksin was caretaker PM he kept postponing the election until 6 months later the military stepped in and took it out of his hands.

The coup was executed just three weeks before the elections were scheduled. Guess the militairy didn't know what everyone else in the country did know...

If the democrats hadn't boycotted the elections in the first place, the elections that were scheduled just after the coup, would't have been necessary. Of course you conveniently forgot all about it right ? Maybe the democrats could do it again and hope for another coup ?

The scheduled October 2006 elections (closer to 4 weeks after the coup) would probably have been postponed again because the new Election Commission weren't ready.

Waza also failed to mention this. The way he put it, you'd think Thaksin kept postponing elections for his own benefits, rather than due to a situation that was out of his hands at that point. Whether Thaksin was right to call the 2006 election is a different issue (of course in retrospect it's one of the most stupid moves he's ever made) - but I noticed the same poster, Waza, was praising Chuan the other day for dissolving house after the corruption allegations against Suthep. And of course he did that because he wanted to avoid a no confidence debate...

If he used consistent standards, he'd be praising Thaksin, not criticizing him. He handed power back to the people! lol. He's also wrong about the TRT's 'electoral fraud', that was nothing to do with why the election wasn't held. TRT weren't dissolved until 2007.

Try doing some research emptyset then maybe you will gain some credibility until then stop misleading the forum with your red spin. You latest post take an off topic discussion in another completely different off topic direction just so you can make some more senseless inaccurate red spin.

Now back on topic, I agree with Abihist.

Edited December 19, 2013 by waza

[GrantSmith]

Abhisit, a man who is hiding behind Suthep's back, while he led the Anti-government protests, this is ridiculous.

Abhisit, the coward...

That's the best you have? Coward? How, pray tell, do you even draw that conclusion?

Suggest you stop reading that red literature you picked up during your visit to Imperial World on your way to Immigration

[Emptyset]

Try doing some research emptyset then maybe you will gain some credibility until then stop misleading the forum with your red spin. You latest post take an off topic discussion in another completely different off topic direction just so you can make some more senseless inaccurate red spin.

Now back on topic, I agree with Abihist.

I'm willing to research if you give me concrete examples of where I'm wrong. Anyway, back on topic, if Abhisit is as smart as you reckon, why is Juti, the Democrats newly elected secretary-general saying "The choice is between losing a lot and losing most of what we have" regards the dilemma of running in the next election? (See BKK Post article titled 'Juti predicts grim fate for Democrats Poll: boycott will lead to party's demise, says chief').

How have the Democrats managed to get themselves into such a disastrous position when only a month ago they had PT on the back foot, with even some red shirts ready to break with them? Now they've managed to push the red shirts back into the arms of PT, whilst painting themselves as anti-democratic in the eyes of the whole world. Genius, this Abhisit guy. If I were Thaksin, I wouldn't want the DSI to be closing down bank accounts of funders of this movement. I'd be sending several million baht winging their way myself...

Edited December 19, 2013 by Emptyset

[waza]

Try doing some research emptyset then maybe you will gain some credibility until then stop misleading the forum with your red spin. You latest post take an off topic discussion in another completely different off topic direction just so you can make some more senseless inaccurate red spin.

Now back on topic, I agree with Abihist.

I'm willing to research if you give me concrete examples of where I'm wrong. Anyway, back on topic, if Abhisit is as smart as you reckon, why is Juti, the Democrats newly elected secretary-general saying "The choice is between losing a lot and losing most of what we have" regards the dilemma of running in the next election? (See BKK Post article titled 'Juti predicts grim fate for Democrats Poll: boycott will lead to party's demise, says chief').

How have the Democrats managed to get themselves into such a disastrous position when only a month ago they had PT on the back foot, with even some red shirts ready to break with them? Now they've managed to push the red shirts back into the arms of PT, whilst painting themselves as anti-democratic in the eyes of the whole world. Genius, this Abhisit guy. If I were Thaksin, I wouldn't want the DSI to be closing down bank accounts of funders of this movement. I'd be sending several million baht winging their way myself...

I said it for years and I stand by it, you don't have to beat Thaksin you just have to give him enough rope, EG: Rice farmers, if they don't come up with some cash very soon to pay them they will be blocking roads. As for the reds, they are still as fractured, but dropping the blanket amnesty and the funding they received to rally in Bangkok was enough to get the UDD back on side, but that's not the whole movement.

The whole corrupt Thaksin association is in real peril of falling apart all it will take is time, the treasury is empty, there is no more plan b, once their corrupt machinations are uncovered they all will be scrambling for the exit.