Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra offers to cancel election

[webfact]

Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra offers to cancel election
Lindsay Murdoch
SOUTH-EAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT FOR FAIRFAX MEDIA

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months.

But in the latest tactic aimed at toppling the democratically elected government firebrand protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban declared that protesters would ‘‘persuade’’ people not to vote when advance polling opens at stations on Sunday.

‘‘It would be better if you do not go out because you will find we have taken over the polling stations,’’ Mr Suthep told voters.

The government’s unprecedented offer followed a ruling by the country’s Constitution Court on Friday that the election could be legally delayed, adding pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is facing a string of legal challenges to her rule as well sometimes violent protests that have crippled ministries and shut down parts of Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/world/thai-pm-yingluck-shinawatra-offers-to-cancel-election-20140125-hv9sk.html

-- The Sydney Morning Herald 2014-01-25

[Bluespunk]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

[Nowhereman60]

‘‘It would be better if you do not go out because you will find we have taken over the polling stations,’’ Mr Suthep told voters.

Once again Suthep is trying to intimidate voters.

[Tatsujin]

Interesting. I'm surprised at this offer to say the least.

[Fryslan boppe]

In some way this is to save the DP and help it survive...There is a constitution provision that states boycotting an election twice, will eliminate any given political Party.....Now the EC and PAD-Dem user-friendly courts are trying to save the Party...To their surprise, the street stuff has been unable to dislodge Ms. Y....so they need to do something....It is my understanding though, that the PTP is advising its' candidates, "Full speed ahead"....It is all a game, and who knows the reality at this point.....I don't think the coup-mongers will accept this anyway...It just emasculates them for the inevitable election a short time from now, and Suthep with his co-leaders will be under immediate law enforcement pressure.

[JesseFrank]

Now wait for the details of the offer to become available.

Keypoints will be that the current government stays in power until a new one is elected, and that the new elections will be delayed for 2 months only, just in time to have a new government formed befor D-day 10 May. The day the amnesty bill returns to the lower house.

[Crushdepth]

Government continues to crumble. They're just delaying the inevitable now - the Shins are going to have to go.

[iancnx]

The Shin can see it's all over and yet they are still scrabbling around trying different delaying tactics. I sense they need more time to organise their (!) belongings and pack their bags.

[harrry]

I somehow do not think she is in a position to name conditions. At least with all the airline cancelations there will be free airspace for her brother's plane to pick her up.

[JRSoul]

In some way this is to save the DP and help it survive...There is a constitution provision that states boycotting an election twice, will eliminate any given political Party.....Now the EC and PAD-Dem user-friendly courts are trying to save the Party...To their surprise, the street stuff has been unable to dislodge Ms. Y....so they need to do something....It is my understanding though, that the PTP is advising its' candidates, "Full speed ahead"....It is all a game, and who knows the reality at this point.....I don't think the coup-mongers will accept this anyway...It just emasculates them for the inevitable election a short time from now, and Suthep with his co-leaders will be under immediate law enforcement pressure.

Without bothering to chase up the relevant section, can I point out that this is the second election the Democrats have boycotted.

Perhaps you meant boycotting 2 consecutive elections, not at all the same thing.

[h90]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

Not clueless, just trying to hold on to power.....Reforms is the last the Shinawatras want....

[Tarric]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

Regardless of how we got to this point and who's to blame the elite on both sides have to stop this madness one way or another.

Yingluck has agreed to resign and leave politics forever if her families safety is guaranteed and if there will be a normal run of the mill election. Currently Suthep and the PDRC have refused to completely okay this offer, however they haven't flat out refused it either.

This action symbolically removes Thaksin's influence from Thai politics despite the reality where he retains control of the PTP, this also allows Suthep to declare victory over Shincorp giving both sides the opportunity to save face. The democrats can champion the fact they removed a corrupt PM through non-violent means using people power something previously completely alien to them.

The farmers are angry, the government has cost people from the top to the bottom of society billions of baht by enacting the state of emergency then doing nothing with it and the Red shirts feel shunned after being left out of the recent political conflict only renewing the growing divide between the PTP and the Red shirts that existed before the Amnesty bill farce.

If Suthep keeps himself out of the spotlight (which is highly unlikely considering his planet sized ego) during a potential election campaign the Democrats may actually have a chance of winning if they take the moral high road now and promise a reform council to truly tackle corruption.

[Hushh]

In some way this is to save the DP and help it survive...There is a constitution provision that states boycotting an election twice, will eliminate any given political Party.....Now the EC and PAD-Dem user-friendly courts are trying to save the Party...To their surprise, the street stuff has been unable to dislodge Ms. Y....so they need to do something....It is my understanding though, that the PTP is advising its' candidates, "Full speed ahead"....It is all a game, and who knows the reality at this point.....I don't think the coup-mongers will accept this anyway...It just emasculates them for the inevitable election a short time from now, and Suthep with his co-leaders will be under immediate law enforcement pressure.

Same old RED propaganda from Ferwert. Give it a rest mate.

[soi41]

What a sad day for Thailand!!

The powers behind the scene pulling the strings and getting their way again!!

All to keep an outdated feudal system in place!!

And I see the Shins for, what they are. A corrupt family feeding their cronies!

If all this ends with a "peoples council", the clock has just been turned back another 50 years!!

[MaxLee]

Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra offers to cancel election

That won't be her decision...

[ratcatcher]

‘‘It would be better if you do not go out because you will find we have taken over the polling stations,’’ Mr Suthep told voters.

Once again Suthep is trying to intimidate voters.

Once again Suthep is trying to intimidate voters.

You forgot to add "with his vicious army of thugs".

[lovetotravel]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

Regardless of how we got to this point and who's to blame the elite on both sides have to stop this madness one way or another.

Yingluck has agreed to resign and leave politics forever if her families safety is guaranteed and if there will be a normal run of the mill election. Currently Suthep and the PDRC have refused to completely okay this offer, however they haven't flat out refused it either.

This action symbolically removes Thaksin's influence from Thai politics despite the reality where he retains control of the PTP, this also allows Suthep to declare victory over Shincorp giving both sides the opportunity to save face. The democrats can champion the fact they removed a corrupt PM through non-violent means using people power something previously completely alien to them.

The farmers are angry, the government has cost people from the top to the bottom of society billions of baht by enacting the state of emergency then doing nothing with it and the Red shirts feel shunned after being left out of the recent political conflict only renewing the growing divide between the PTP and the Red shirts that existed before the Amnesty bill farce.

If Suthep keeps himself out of the spotlight (which is highly unlikely considering his planet sized ego) during a potential election campaign the Democrats may actually have a chance of winning if they take the moral high road now and promise a reform council to truly tackle corruption.

She makes lots of promises. Most of which are never honored. If she resigned, things would calm down. It's all her court...err...her brothers court.

This proposal to cancel the election is just smoke and mirrors. If they were really serious, the decision would already be made and the EC instructed to cancel the polls. The EC asked for a meeting on Monday and the government said Tuesday was better. More delay tactics.

[kikoman]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

What Suthep wants, is not what the country wants, kindly refer to the poll on this forum, that state 79% of Thai's polled plan to vote!

Finally, the elitist lapdogs on the Court realize they have no authority to make such a ruling on postponing an election under the constitution. And referred to the Army cancelling the 2006 election,in their decision that it had been done before! (very thin legal grounds)

It places the Government back in control of the situation, Yingluck offered reasonable conditions that all parties must agree to prior to such an agreement. If they refuse to agree on the reasonable offer.

Then is by there refusal, to end the protest, that the election was not postponed.

Ball back in your court, Suthep!

Classic!

[Nowhereman60]

‘‘It would be better if you do not go out because you will find we have taken over the polling stations,’’ Mr Suthep told voters.

Once again Suthep is trying to intimidate voters.

Once again Suthep is trying to intimidate voters.

You forgot to add "with his vicious army of thugs".

I have reach my limit on saying thugs for today.

[Tatsujin]

Yingluck has agreed to resign and leave politics forever if her families safety is guaranteed and if there will be a normal run of the mill election. Currently Suthep and the PDRC have refused to completely okay this offer, however they haven't flat out refused it either.

When did Yingluck agree to resign and leave politics forever? Did I miss something?

[coobah666]

reminds me of a song.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hsC0nRvZM

[love1012]

What a sad day for Thailand!!

The powers behind the scene pulling the strings and getting their way again!!

All to keep an outdated feudal system in place!!

And I see the Shins for, what they are. A corrupt family feeding their cronies!

If all this ends with a "peoples council", the clock has just been turned back another 50 years!!

I dont understand your post - shins have to go - but no electoral reform - what do you want then>>??

[kikoman]

Suthep now realizes the court ruling places him in an awkward position. He is already backing down from his threat to block the election!

[Bluespunk]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

Regardless of how we got to this point and who's to blame the elite on both sides have to stop this madness one way or another.

Yingluck has agreed to resign and leave politics forever if her families safety is guaranteed and if there will be a normal run of the mill election. Currently Suthep and the PDRC have refused to completely okay this offer, however they haven't flat out refused it either.

This action symbolically removes Thaksin's influence from Thai politics despite the reality where he retains control of the PTP, this also allows Suthep to declare victory over Shincorp giving both sides the opportunity to save face. The democrats can champion the fact they removed a corrupt PM through non-violent means using people power something previously completely alien to them.

The farmers are angry, the government has cost people from the top to the bottom of society billions of baht by enacting the state of emergency then doing nothing with it and the Red shirts feel shunned after being left out of the recent political conflict only renewing the growing divide between the PTP and the Red shirts that existed before the Amnesty bill farce.

If Suthep keeps himself out of the spotlight (which is highly unlikely considering his planet sized ego) during a potential election campaign the Democrats may actually have a chance of winning if they take the moral high road now and promise a reform council to truly tackle corruption.

I missed the story where yingluck has agreed to leave politics. When was this offer made? (Genuine question).

[expat888]

This cycle has no chance of ending. If the protests are successful, there will be another 2010 and the Reds will return. The only thing we can hope for as foreigners is civil war doesn't break out.

Thailand wants to be recognized on the World Stage but they are only proving they can never be more than a third world country in constant chaos.

It seems Thais have the appetite to be in conflict with someone. IMO, they enjoy the ongoing indifference they have with foreigners as well as their own kind.

[Tarric]

Yingluck has agreed to resign and leave politics forever if her families safety is guaranteed and if there will be a normal run of the mill election. Currently Suthep and the PDRC have refused to completely okay this offer, however they haven't flat out refused it either.

When did Yingluck agree to resign and leave politics forever? Did I miss something?

There was an article about it in the Bangkok post about a week ago I will see if I can find it.

[soi41]

Now wait for the details of the offer to become available.

Keypoints will be that the current government stays in power until a new one is elected, and that the new elections will be delayed for 2 months only, just in time to have a new government formed befor D-day 10 May. The day the amnesty bill returns to the lower house.

A solution to that could be, that the Dems register for the new election-date. They got the momentum at the moment, if only they manage to get the rent-a-mob off the streets, because they are scaring away many average voters!

As for the D-day. Not even PTP would be that stupid??? OR..................

[icommunity]

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

Do they really think this is what the protestors want? How will this meet their demands for reform? Clueless.

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months." as reported here. Clueless.

[kurtgruen]

Interesting. I'm surprised at this offer to say the least.

I've been predicting it for weeks. While taking a step back, she also makes herself look good again. Smart move on her part. It won't help her in the long run, but the only smart move, she could make, at this point.

If at this point, the protesters would go home, I'm sure, she would come up with a way, to pay off the rice farmers, even if her brother had to pay for it, out of his own pocket (and steal it back again, later, when they get re-elected.) So if I was the protesters, I would not budge, until she steps down and out of Thai politics completely. Otherwise, you will just have the same crooks in power again. The Thaksin clan, needs to be removed from Thai politics, before any changes for the better will have a chance to work.

[icommunity]

Government continues to crumble. They're just delaying the inevitable now - the Shins are going to have to go.

Read careful what is report here:

"Thailands embattled government has offered to call off an election set for February 2 if protesters end their rallies and promise not to obstruct or boycott a new one within months."

They have no intention to delay.