Poll agency denies asking caretaker PM to postpone election

[webfact]

Poll agency denies asking caretaker PM to postpone election
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 10 - Thailand's Election Commission (EC) today denied a news report that it asked the caretaker government to issue a royal decree to postpone the Feb 2 general election.

EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the poll agency did not submit a letter advising the caretaker government to do so.

He reaffirmed that the EC commissioners neither discussed postponing the election nor drafted such a letter.

Were the EC to propose the idea to the caretaker government, he said the issue must first be approved by all five election commissioners, the EC secretary-general said.

Mr Puchong's denial was in response to a report by local media that the five-member election commission said in an urgent letter to caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that there were several incidents which led to an assumption that the snap poll, if held as scheduled, will encounter problems and it is uncertain that the number of elected candidates will reach 95 per cent of all MPs in the House of Representatives as required by the Constitution.

The EC reportedly said an election under the present circumstances will end with huge expense and as the government is empowered to delay the election by issuing a royal decree, it should do so.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions' ruling which dismissed a petition by a potential election candidate fighting for his right to contest in the snap poll, Mr Pushong said the court decision is final.

He said it is difficult for the EC to do otherwise, but said the poll agency will further discuss the issue for a clear-cut conclusion.

Jirayuth Sudjit lodged his complaint with the Supreme Court, saying he could not enter the election registration site in Thung Song district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Jan 1.

He said he intended to run in the election under the Pracha Samakki Party banner but the registration was disrupted.

Election registration venues in eight southern provinces were blocked by anti-government protesters during the nationwide registration from Dec 27 through Jan1.

The court said it was empowered to rule on the case only after an election director has completed the registration of a candidate but failed to formally announce his name for the contest.

The court said the Election Commission was obliged to handle Mr Jirayuth’s case and see to it that its obligation to hold an election would be accomplished.

It’s not the Supreme Court’s authority to enforce Mr Jirayuth's request, the court said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-01-10

[Tatsujin]

So . . . who's lying?

I know who I think (based on past performance) . . .

[uty6543]

They might as well postpone the election as no government can be formed as there wont be the required 95% of the seats filled.

[Scamper]

This administration seems to be particularly prone to leaked stories that have to be instantly denied. At what point does one begin to think that there might be some truth to them ? The problem with these stories is that all of them sound embarrassingly credible. But - no matter - credibility is just one more mountain that Pheu Thai needs to master. In the meantime, an election goes ahead in 69 of 77 provinces, and 28 constituencies shy of candidates - 3 more than the maximum allowed under the constitution. The EC can count, of course. But it would be rude apparently to suggest that the Pheu Thai party cannot. So on we march to the next constitutional crisis.

[chainarong]

Regardless of what, this would be the best out come of a bad situation, bearing in mind the democrats only boycotted because of the short time frame , this would then put them in a position of either doing what they asked for or still boycotting, either way they are then on the back foot. nice political maneuverer from Caretaker P.M. Yingluck, if she wanted one.

[SouthernMan3]

They might as well postpone the election as no government can be formed as there wont be the required 95% of the seats filled.

Ya think ?

In other words it'll be just another waste of money !

[taony]

Didn't the other article say the letter wasn't sent yet? That's what this article is saying too, just with the negative slant added.

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