EC ponders more than one election day

[Lite Beer]

EC ponders more than one election day

BANGKOK: -- There may be more than one election day but the matter has to be discussed between the Election Commission and the government, said election commissioner in charge of election affairs Mr Somchai Srisuthiyakorn from a temporary election quarter in Chon Buri on Friday.

He complained that the EC was yet to receive a response from the government regarding its invitation for the government to discuss the election issue whether it should be postponed as favoured by the EC or whether it should be staged on schedule on February 2 as well as the safety problem regarding advance voting in the South.

Mr Somchai disclosed that by next Thursday the EC would be able to announce which constituencies where advance voting would not be possible. Even if advance voting is possible, he said that the EC was concerned about safety problem in 13 southern provinces with the exception of Songkhla and Surat Thani where polling would take place in areas controlled by the police.

However, he said any voters who could not vote in advance could still vote on February 2.

Asked about the widespread concern that election cannot be staged on February 2, Mr Somchai said the EC was considering another option which is to have more than one election day but the matter has to be discussed with the government.

The election commissioner admitted he was not worried by a threat of the Pheu Thai party to have him sacked.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-ponders-one-election-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ec-ponders-one-election-day

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-17

[Scamper]

Can anyone believe the dynamics of this situation ? The EC is a constitutionally empowered institution that has given its recommendation, not once, but repeatedly, and now on a day-to-day basis - that the election cannot be practically held and should be delayed. The administration is constitutionally bound to respect that recommendation and to act on it. What has the Yingluck administration done under the orders of Thaksin ? To assume that the EC does not have this authority at all. To assume that the administration does not have it either ( but brazenly in recent days proposed just that to the PDRC - when they offered a three month delay that the PDRC rejected ). To assume that a reform committee that the administration has hastily convened somehow now has this authority. To assume that the administration can sue or sack any member of the Election Commission at will if they do not agree with them. In short, the Yingluck administration believes in anarchy. They also believe that the EC does not deserve its audience - even though the EC has requested it on a daily basis, to discuss this very election. Instead, the administration prefers to talk to the EC through the media, and finally agrees to meet with them - in four days ! But, incredibly - not to discuss the election, but to rehash yet again the Yingluck administration's insistence that billions and billions of baht be released to salvage what is left of the rice farmer vote before the election, to which the EC has said no, as it is such a clear electoral transgression, and is now also the subject of an ongoing investigation of corruption that extends to the prime minister herself.

Richard Nixon himself could not possibly have aspired to reach these kinds of levels of pure gall as well as a wanton disrespect for the institution of governance.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Scamper

[j15mth]

My friend has compared the present position as "Theater of the Absurd" but where is Thailand Heading in the next month ???

[FangFerang]

It's all new lines to the same sad song....

[The Dancer]

Give the thug Suthep an inch and he'll want a yard. And he refuses to sit and talk. And the Dems don't want to participate in the elections because they'll lose. So what exactly is the point of postponing? Postpone a couple of months and Suthep will keep on flinging his feces for that long which means disruption, incendiary speeches, whistles and a few more deaths.

PTP is calculating right. The protests are going nowhere and once the elections are done and dusted they'll mean nothing either.

[Spalpeen]

Can anyone believe the dynamics of this situation ? The EC is a constitutionally empowered institution that has given its recommendation, not once, but repeatedly, and now on a day-to-day basis - that the election cannot be practically held and should be delayed. The administration is constitutionally bound to respect that recommendation and to act on it. What has the Yingluck administration done under the orders of Thaksin ? To assume that the EC does not have this authority at all. To assume that the administration does not have it either ( but brazenly in recent days proposed just that to the PDRC - when they offered a three month delay that the PDRC rejected ). To assume that a reform committee that the administration has hastily convened somehow now has this authority. To assume that the administration can sue or sack any member of the Election Commission at will if they do not agree with them. In short, the Yingluck administration believes in anarchy. They also believe that the EC does not deserve its audience - even though the EC has requested it on a daily basis, to discuss this very election. Instead, the administration prefers to talk to the EC through the media, and finally agrees to meet with them - in four days ! But, incredibly - not to discuss the election, but to rehash yet again the Yingluck administration's insistence that billions and billions of baht be released to salvage what is left of the rice farmer vote before the election, to which the EC has said no, as it is such a clear electoral transgression, and is now also the subject of an ongoing investigation of corruption that extends to the prime minister herself.

Richard Nixon himself could not possibly have aspired to reach these kinds of levels of pure gall as well as a wanton disrespect for the institution of governance.

.

It's hard to understand why Thailand bothers with a constitutional court at all when there are so many learned and eminent experts on the Thai constitution to be found on TVF.

[icommunity]

Pheu Thai party to have Somchai sacked? I think they want to seek justice and legal redress.

[bigbamboo]

More than one election day?

So if the people don't get it right the first time they can try again the following week.

[moonao]

The EC are basically yellow shirts operators attempting to legally squirm out of the duty of their jobs. They should be sacked ASAP.

[espinoza]

Can anyone believe the dynamics of this situation ? The EC is a constitutionally empowered institution that has given its recommendation, not once, but repeatedly, and now on a day-to-day basis - that the election cannot be practically held and should be delayed. The administration is constitutionally bound to respect that recommendation and to act on it. What has the Yingluck administration done under the orders of Thaksin ? To assume that the EC does not have this authority at all. To assume that the administration does not have it either ( but brazenly in recent days proposed just that to the PDRC - when they offered a three month delay that the PDRC rejected ). To assume that a reform committee that the administration has hastily convened somehow now has this authority. To assume that the administration can sue or sack any member of the Election Commission at will if they do not agree with them. In short, the Yingluck administration believes in anarchy. They also believe that the EC does not deserve its audience - even though the EC has requested it on a daily basis, to discuss this very election. Instead, the administration prefers to talk to the EC through the media, and finally agrees to meet with them - in four days ! But, incredibly - not to discuss the election, but to rehash yet again the Yingluck administration's insistence that billions and billions of baht be released to salvage what is left of the rice farmer vote before the election, to which the EC has said no, as it is such a clear electoral transgression, and is now also the subject of an ongoing investigation of corruption that extends to the prime minister herself.

Richard Nixon himself could not possibly have aspired to reach these kinds of levels of pure gall as well as a wanton disrespect for the institution of governance.

The constitution draws the rules, not the EC, nor anybody others whishies.

[casualbiker]

Give the thug Suthep an inch and he'll want a yard. And he refuses to sit and talk. And the Dems don't want to participate in the elections because they'll lose. So what exactly is the point of postponing? Postpone a couple of months and Suthep will keep on flinging his feces for that long which means disruption, incendiary speeches, whistles and a few more deaths.

PTP is calculating right. The protests are going nowhere and once the elections are done and dusted they'll mean nothing either.

Nor will the election. Because at this rate PhuaThai have no hope of getting the required 20% of voters in each constituents to win.

Therefore 3.8 billion baht wasted and another election to be done with ANOTHER 3.8 billion baht spent.. that is also a consideration of the EC as the Ombudsman has warned them that if that happens they could be held accountable. They ARE trying to do their jobs.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[The Dancer]

Give the thug Suthep an inch and he'll want a yard. And he refuses to sit and talk. And the Dems don't want to participate in the elections because they'll lose. So what exactly is the point of postponing? Postpone a couple of months and Suthep will keep on flinging his feces for that long which means disruption, incendiary speeches, whistles and a few more deaths.

PTP is calculating right. The protests are going nowhere and once the elections are done and dusted they'll mean nothing either.

Nor will the election. Because at this rate PhuaThai have no hope of getting the required 20% of voters in each constituents to win.

Therefore 3.8 billion baht wasted and another election to be done with ANOTHER 3.8 billion baht spent.. that is also a consideration of the EC as the Ombudsman has warned them that if that happens they could be held accountable. They ARE trying to do their jobs.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If what you say were in the remotest realm of possibility then the PTP would be the ones backpedalling. And the patently pro-Dem EC would be raring for Feb. 2.

Nope, it's the other way around. The Dems/elites only hope is for the EC to save their backsides by somehow scuttling the polls. It'll be an interesting few days now.

[Baerboxer]

Can anyone believe the dynamics of this situation ? The EC is a constitutionally empowered institution that has given its recommendation, not once, but repeatedly, and now on a day-to-day basis - that the election cannot be practically held and should be delayed. The administration is constitutionally bound to respect that recommendation and to act on it. What has the Yingluck administration done under the orders of Thaksin ? To assume that the EC does not have this authority at all. To assume that the administration does not have it either ( but brazenly in recent days proposed just that to the PDRC - when they offered a three month delay that the PDRC rejected ). To assume that a reform committee that the administration has hastily convened somehow now has this authority. To assume that the administration can sue or sack any member of the Election Commission at will if they do not agree with them. In short, the Yingluck administration believes in anarchy. They also believe that the EC does not deserve its audience - even though the EC has requested it on a daily basis, to discuss this very election. Instead, the administration prefers to talk to the EC through the media, and finally agrees to meet with them - in four days ! But, incredibly - not to discuss the election, but to rehash yet again the Yingluck administration's insistence that billions and billions of baht be released to salvage what is left of the rice farmer vote before the election, to which the EC has said no, as it is such a clear electoral transgression, and is now also the subject of an ongoing investigation of corruption that extends to the prime minister herself.

Richard Nixon himself could not possibly have aspired to reach these kinds of levels of pure gall as well as a wanton disrespect for the institution of governance.

.

It's hard to understand why Thailand bothers with a constitutional court at all when there are so many learned and eminent experts on the Thai constitution to be found on TVF.

Indeedy - and all the TVF experts who seem to know its the protesters attacking themselves to make the reds look bad, and that PTP aren't really corrupt because the Shins would never lie. All without any evidence. Real genius.

[casualbiker]

Give the thug Suthep an inch and he'll want a yard. And he refuses to sit and talk. And the Dems don't want to participate in the elections because they'll lose. So what exactly is the point of postponing? Postpone a couple of months and Suthep will keep on flinging his feces for that long which means disruption, incendiary speeches, whistles and a few more deaths.

PTP is calculating right. The protests are going nowhere and once the elections are done and dusted they'll mean nothing either.

Nor will the election. Because at this rate PhuaThai have no hope of getting the required 20% of voters in each constituents to win.

Therefore 3.8 billion baht wasted and another election to be done with ANOTHER 3.8 billion baht spent.. that is also a consideration of the EC as the Ombudsman has warned them that if that happens they could be held accountable. They ARE trying to do their jobs.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If what you say were in the remotest realm of possibility then the PTP would be the ones backpedalling. And the patently pro-Dem EC would be raring for Feb. 2.

Nope, it's the other way around. The Dems/elites only hope is for the EC to save their backsides by somehow scuttling the polls. It'll be an interesting few days now.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/692801-mp-total-could-fall-short-if-blockades-continue-feb-2-election/

and on top of that any Mp has to get at least 20% of the vote.. as you say interesting times. PTP are backpedalling-forward pedalling-sideways pedalling. In fact they havent a clue where they are going.. They are just desperate to pay the rice farmers. Even going so far as trying to legalize loan sharks (before the new government is sworn in)http://www.thephuketnews.com/novel-way-to-tackle-loan-sharks-proposed-44082.php

[JRSoul]

Can anyone believe the dynamics of this situation ? The EC is a constitutionally empowered institution that has given its recommendation, not once, but repeatedly, and now on a day-to-day basis - that the election cannot be practically held and should be delayed. The administration is constitutionally bound to respect that recommendation and to act on it. What has the Yingluck administration done under the orders of Thaksin ? To assume that the EC does not have this authority at all. To assume that the administration does not have it either ( but brazenly in recent days proposed just that to the PDRC - when they offered a three month delay that the PDRC rejected ). To assume that a reform committee that the administration has hastily convened somehow now has this authority. To assume that the administration can sue or sack any member of the Election Commission at will if they do not agree with them. In short, the Yingluck administration believes in anarchy. They also believe that the EC does not deserve its audience - even though the EC has requested it on a daily basis, to discuss this very election. Instead, the administration prefers to talk to the EC through the media, and finally agrees to meet with them - in four days ! But, incredibly - not to discuss the election, but to rehash yet again the Yingluck administration's insistence that billions and billions of baht be released to salvage what is left of the rice farmer vote before the election, to which the EC has said no, as it is such a clear electoral transgression, and is now also the subject of an ongoing investigation of corruption that extends to the prime minister herself.

Richard Nixon himself could not possibly have aspired to reach these kinds of levels of pure gall as well as a wanton disrespect for the institution of governance.

.

It's hard to understand why Thailand bothers with a constitutional court at all when there are so many learned and eminent experts on the Thai constitution to be found on TVF.

Probably because there is an even larger number of ill-informed idiots willing to express an opinion with nothing to support it or more interested in attacking posters rather than adding to the conversation.

[Nowhereman60]

I like the idea of more than one election day. Many three or four would be a good idea.

[casualbiker]

I like the idea of more than one election day. Many three or four would be a good idea.

well if this one goes ahead on February 2. You might get your wish.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[gabruce]

Give the thug Suthep an inch and he'll want a yard. And he refuses to sit and talk. And the Dems don't want to participate in the elections because they'll lose. So what exactly is the point of postponing? Postpone a couple of months and Suthep will keep on flinging his feces for that long which means disruption, incendiary speeches, whistles and a few more deaths.

PTP is calculating right. The protests are going nowhere and once the elections are done and dusted they'll mean nothing either.

Nor will the election. Because at this rate PhuaThai have no hope of getting the required 20% of voters in each constituents to win.

Therefore 3.8 billion baht wasted and another election to be done with ANOTHER 3.8 billion baht spent.. that is also a consideration of the EC as the Ombudsman has warned them that if that happens they could be held accountable. They ARE trying to do their jobs.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If what you say were in the remotest realm of possibility then the PTP would be the ones backpedalling. And the patently pro-Dem EC would be raring for Feb. 2.

Nope, it's the other way around. The Dems/elites only hope is for the EC to save their backsides by somehow scuttling the polls. It'll be an interesting few days now.

It's at least partially true. Definitely the Democrats won't have anyone elected on Feb 2 since no Democrats are registered candidates. There won't be a parliament opened because it's mathematically impossible to elect enough MP's to meet the 95% criteria. There is absolutely no way that any of the registered candidates could change parties before the election because it would disqualify them.

My opinion is that I know nothing. It might help to delay the polls, reopen the registration process, if the Democrats agreed to lift their boycott and the protestors agreed to not block registration or voting. Right now that seems very unlikely.

I believe that without a doubt going ahead with the election is going to lead to problems very quickly.

[drand11]

It is absurd to reward the Dems for illegally blocking registration. Dems will soon have NO say in the final elected Govt. Thats ok, Dems never could win over 25 yrs anyways, let another party learn from the Dems mistakes.

Edited January 18, 2014 by drand11

[drand11]

The wasted money lays at the feet of the Dems. So afraid of an election??? Its a sad example of Demicracy! Dems are a bunch if followers being lead by a power grabbing Ductatot *Suthep)

[drand11]

The wasted money lays at the feet of the Dems. So afraid of an election??? Its a sad example of Demicracy! Dems are a bunch if followers being lead by a power grabbing Ductatot *Suthep)

[Basil B]

It is only a matter of time (days) before the PTP will want the elections canceled because they see more and more problems, Yinglucks position is getting more and more untenable, she nearly gave up last weekend and this week has got no better.

PTP will want rid of the Shinawatra's and their cronies, the Shinawatras will be blamed for everything and then those left will want time to rename and re-brand their party.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Basil B

[rickirs]

For the EC to consider adding days to the election scheduled Feb 2nd is exactly within its authority to order (vs. "recommend") and truly about time it propose something workable and reasonable within its mandate of responsibility. Maybe Yingluck has worn the EC down to get off its "high horse" just advising and playing it safe from failing its duty to becoming part of the solution for a success election.

[drand11]

The wasted money lays at the feet of the Dems. So afraid of an election??? Its a sad example of Demicracy! Dems are a bunch if followers being lead by a power grabbing Ductatot *Suthep)

[Ulic]

So he is waiting for a government response on his desire to postpone the election. I guess the

government response of asking the EC what law or scenario they could use was not what he wanted

to hear so he is ignoring that question. These incompetent buffoons who could not organize safe

registration venues for candidates in the south should all be fired for gross incompetence.

[whybother]

It is absurd to reward the Dems for illegally blocking registration. Dems will soon have NO say in the final elected Govt. Thats ok, Dems never could win over 25 yrs anyways, let another party learn from the Dems mistakes.

When did the Democrats block registration?

[Cnxforever]

"......from a temporary election quarter in Chon Buri on Friday."

is he already in hiding?

What a Nerd - he does he not even have the decency to resign after what he said to the press!

Maybe he should concentrate more on his job than playing politics! And if he is too stupid to do his job to arrange elections for sure there are plenty of independent capably people around in Thailand who could replace him!