Thai govt may let EC decide: February 2 election

[webfact]

Govt may let EC decide
The Nation

Agency may be asked to set date, shoulder cost, ensure no action against PM: source

BANGKOK: -- THE CARETAKER government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.

A source in the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday that the government was expected to ask the EC to set a new election date. Also, the caretaker PM has reportedly been advised by the party's legal team to ask the EC to shoulder the Bt1.88 billion it would cost to hold an election, the source said.

The election commissioners would also be asked to ensure that no legal action will be taken against the PM or her government if the caretaker Cabinet issues a royal decree rescheduling the election.

At the meeting, the PM will also raise questions with the EC on whether rescheduling the election would bring the ongoing protests to an end and whether the Democrat Party would contest the rescheduled election.

According to the source, one proposal - at the suggestion of the Council of State - would be for the EC to postpone the voting by seven days. This would be in line with Article 78 of the electoral law that allows such postponement in case of riot or force majeure (natural disaster).

Earlier yesterday, the government appeared firm on going ahead with the election this Sunday. Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, who is also leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said the election must be held on schedule. He explained the government had resolved with 41 political parties for the poll to go ahead. They agreed it was not necessary to postpone the election, he said.

But a former Pheu Thai minister said the government may postpone the poll if the EC could convince the Democrat Party to contest the election and that no legal action would be taken against the caretaker PM if it was postponed.

The source, who asked not to be named, said Pheu Thai leaders met their legal team yesterday about points to be discussed with the EC at the meeting between Yingluck and the commissioners, to be held at the Army Club at 2pm.

EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said yesterday the EC would propose that the poll be delayed by up to four or five months.

The Pheu Thai meeting yesterday came up with three solutions in response to the Constitutional Court ruling last Friday that the election can be rescheduled, the source said.

The first was to go ahead with the poll as scheduled because the royal decree to dissolve the House and hold the February 2 election is still in effect.

"If the caretaker government advocates postponing the election, it may get sued by political parties and people who have voted in advance," the source said.

Second, the election goes ahead but the EC postpones the ballot in constituencies where advance voting on Sunday was interrupted by protesters - for seven days or more depending on the situation. Third, cancel the election and reschedule it on grounds that the court has backed rescheduling it.

'Govt will be blamed'

"The government will be blamed by society if it does not postpone the election. The EC wants the election to be postponed for 120 to 150 days," the source said.

The EC wants the new election to be held after a ballot for 77 senators to replace those whose term runs out on March 4, the source claimed. The government also wanted the EC to guarantee that the Democrat Party would take part if the election is deferred for a few months.

The Democrats have boycotted the current election on grounds that political reform should be implemented first.

Somchai, speaking to Spring News TV, said the polling process should be restarted to pave the way for candidates unable to register for the Feb 2 election to apply. Moreover, he said, advance voting needed to be nullified via a new royal decree.

"I think the election should be postponed for 4-5 months. All concerned parties need to hold talks on how to make the election acceptable and fair," he said.

Meanwhile, a group of people yesterday shouted messages in support of the February 2 election when Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived at Thammasat University's Rangsit campus for a meeting between political party representatives and EC members.

Representatives from more small political parties registered to contest the Feb 2 election submitted a letter to the prime minister yesterday, urging her not to postpone the poll.

Surathin Pijan, leader of New Democratic Party, threatened to take legal action against the PM, the EC, and possibly the Constitutional Court if the election is postponed. He said smaller parties had spent a lot of money on their election campaigns.

Caretaker Deputy PM Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is the chief adviser of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), told reporters that if the EC seeks help from the CMPO, which is in charge of enforcing the emergency decree, to keep law and order at polling stations, the body would be able to handle the situation.

He said the EC did not seek help from police or the military to protect polling stations during advance voting two days ago.

Advance voting at most polling stations in Bangkok and southern provinces were cancelled following blockades by protesters. This caused the EC to complain that it did not receive support from police or the military.

But Surapong said he received explanations from Interior Ministry permanent secretary Wibul Sanguanpong and Defence permanent secretary Gen Nipat Thonglek that the EC had not sought special protection or special forces to deal with the protests.

"So only the normal number of police were deployed to guard polling stations," Surapong said.

Interior Minister Charupong said yesterday he has ordered his permanent secretary to summon governors of 10 provinces, where advance polling could not be held, to clarify how much cooperation they gave to election officials. He said he wanted to know if the ministry had received an official request from the EC to support election officials during advance voting.


-- The Nation 2014-01-28

[EricBerg]

Perhaps the caretakers are scared going to court when they push through the feb 2nd election. Wasting a few billion baht more would be heir problem.

So they are starting to give in. Let's see if Chalerm really will have the police shooting at the protesters in an attempt to arrest Suthep.

[NongKhaiKid]

The ancient and( dis ) honourable practice of passing the buck. Who makes the decision not to make a decision ?

The govt carefully blamed the EC for last Sunday's fiasco saying they didn't ask for enough police etc. while the govt abrogated it's responsibility for public order.

I don't know anything about those who compose the EC so do they have police or military training, do they know how to run an internal security operation ?

If they don't then they better learn fast because this govt will happily dump all responsibility onto them and wait to point fingers again when it goes pear shaped.

[thesetat2013]

I like the way they added (ensure no action against PM)

I think someone is trying to protect themself from future criminal and civil actions

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[edwardandtubs]

Presumably the government needs reassurances that the whole thing isn't a set-up and that once the election is postponed the constitutional court doesn't launch another one of its judicial coups that hands power to Suthep. And if the EC can't hold an election on 2 Feb, what makes them think anything will be different in 2 months?

Edited January 28, 2014 by edwardandtubs

[noitom]

Presumably the government needs reassurances that the whole thing isn't a set-up and that once the election is postponed the constitutional court doesn't launch another one of its judicial coups that hands power to Suthep. And if the EC can't hold an election on 2 Feb, what makes them think anything will be different in 2 months?

There are "setups" going on both ways.

[Thaddeus]

It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was them.

Spineless.

[Spalpeen]

The election is already under way. Votes have been cast. There's no conceivable way to legally interrupt an election that has already started. If the Feb 2nd election is illegally stopped the anti democracy gangs will face the real anger of the Thai people.

[Crushdepth]

The election is already under way. Votes have been cast. There's no conceivable way to legally interrupt an election that has already started. If the Feb 2nd election is illegally stopped the anti democracy gangs will face the real anger of the Thai people.

The election can be rescheduled by decree, and there a court decision to back it up.

Why do you persist in posting <deleted> that you know to be false?

[Spalpeen]

The election is already under way. Votes have been cast. There's no conceivable way to legally interrupt an election that has already started. If the Feb 2nd election is illegally stopped the anti democracy gangs will face the real anger of the Thai people.

The election can be rescheduled by decree, and there a court decision to back it up.

Why do you persist in posting <deleted> that you know to be false?

.

The court ruling was issued on Friday, before the votes were cast. Now that the election is under way the ruling is redundant. Maybe logic isn't your strong point.

If the government and/or the EC try to interrupt an election which is under way they will quickly find themselves on the wrong end of law suits from both voters and political parties. This is yet another trap laid by the anti democracy terrorists and I doubt if this government will fall for it.

[Bluespunk]

The election is already under way. Votes have been cast. There's no conceivable way to legally interrupt an election that has already started. If the Feb 2nd election is illegally stopped the anti democracy gangs will face the real anger of the Thai people.

The election can be rescheduled by decree, and there a court decision to back it up.

Why do you persist in posting <deleted> that you know to be false?

.

The court ruling was issued on Friday, before the votes were cast. Now that the election is under way the ruling is redundant. Maybe logic isn't your strong point.

If the government and/or the EC try to interrupt an election which is under way they will quickly find themselves on the wrong end of law suits from both voters and political parties. This is yet another trap laid by the anti democracy terrorists and I doubt if this government will fall for it.

'THE CARETAKER government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.

A source in the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday that the government was expected to ask the EC to set a new election date. Also, the caretaker PM has reportedly been advised by the party's legal team to ask the EC to shoulder the Bt1.88 billion it would cost to hold an election, the source said.

The election commissioners would also be asked to ensure that no legal action will be taken against the PM or her government if the caretaker Cabinet issues a royal decree rescheduling the election.'

The OP says different.

[Spalpeen]

The election is already under way. Votes have been cast. There's no conceivable way to legally interrupt an election that has already started. If the Feb 2nd election is illegally stopped the anti democracy gangs will face the real anger of the Thai people.

The election can be rescheduled by decree, and there a court decision to back it up.

Why do you persist in posting <deleted> that you know to be false?

.

The court ruling was issued on Friday, before the votes were cast. Now that the election is under way the ruling is redundant. Maybe logic isn't your strong point.

If the government and/or the EC try to interrupt an election which is under way they will quickly find themselves on the wrong end of law suits from both voters and political parties. This is yet another trap laid by the anti democracy terrorists and I doubt if this government will fall for it.

'THE CARETAKER government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.

A source in the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday that the government was expected to ask the EC to set a new election date. Also, the caretaker PM has reportedly been advised by the party's legal team to ask the EC to shoulder the Bt1.88 billion it would cost to hold an election, the source said.

The election commissioners would also be asked to ensure that no legal action will be taken against the PM or her government if the caretaker Cabinet issues a royal decree rescheduling the election.'

The OP says different.

.

I was right. Logic isn't your strong point. The government clearly has a better grasp of the subtleties of what's going on here and is playing a very clever game. Every move made by the anti democracy mob is turned back against them. Impressive!

[Bluespunk]

@spalpeen

Have you actually read the OP? I have. Clearly states that the govt is willing to consider rescheduling the election. Logical enough for you?

[LevelHead]

WOW

Another "source" story quoting something that MAY or MAY NOT happen.

LOL

I think the media is going to be full of may do this and may do that stories in the run up to Feb 2nd. Lots of "source" stories as the propaganda machines of certain Thai media outlets ramp up to lash out at red shirts, PTP, YL all in the hope of causing minimal votes for PTP and to get more protestors in to stop elections and prevent people voting.

In my opinion of course.

[Spalpeen]

@spalpeen

Have you actually read the OP? I have. Clearly states that the govt is willing to consider rescheduling the election. Logical enough for you?

.

So now you're quoting a vague assertion in the notoriously pro yellow shirt Nation about an un-named source claiming knowledge of the governments intentions? Not even remotely logical.

[tezzainoz]

My Thai wife and many of her Thai friends have been in Bkk now for over 2 weeks as protestors

Forget about what the leaders want, this is what the Thai people who are protesting feel

Stop Taskin getting his GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD

Something that many members want him to get, here on Thai Visa

If the next election is held at a time that Taskin can not get this home free card then:

1) It was the PTP Party that caused all these problems trying to push through an amnesty that was against all Thais at the beginning so they should be responsible for the costs and lost of Face

2) The Dems should be part of the next resheduled election and see if the people want them or not

3) If there is a decent Issan Party formed and runs, that want the best for Issan and Thailand they with get her vote and the vote of her friends

5) all parties should agree and sign that if the PM reshedules that this can not be held against her at a later time, but does not forgive her of any other crimes she has committed , if any

6) if the above happens, she and her friends will return home, even if Suthep wants to continue the protest, but reserves the right to return, if the PTP go back on their word, like they have done many times before

7) if the Democrats can not do there reform issues in the 5 month talked about, then this is their bad luck, and should not stop another election

My rights to make these statements

Both my self and all my friends are THAI

Edited January 28, 2014 by tezzainoz

[meand]

I love how everything here is a "may". Why even talk then? Why even communicate?

"We may do this....." and the following day "We may do that..."

When are they going to learn? Get into a room, make your mind up about things, and then, let us know.

Edited January 28, 2014 by meand

[Bluespunk]

@spalpeen

Have you actually read the OP? I have. Clearly states that the govt is willing to consider rescheduling the election. Logical enough for you?

.

So now you're quoting a vague assertion in the notoriously pro yellow shirt Nation about an un-named source claiming knowledge of the governments intentions? Not even remotely logical.

Hmm, just don't like to be wrong do you.

But, yes, that is the story, apparently from someone in PT.

Is this story only in the nation?

Logic would say to check. Have you?

[newcomer71]

My Thai wife and many of her Thai friends have been in Bkk now for over 2 weeks as protestors

Forget about what Biask HS want, this is what the Thai people who are protesting feel

Stop Taskin getting his GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD

Something that many members want here on Thai Visa

If the next election is held at a time that Taskin can not get this home free card then:

1) It was the PTP Party thay caused all these problems trying to push through an amesty that was against all Thais at the beginning so they shpuld be responsible for the costs and lost of Face

2) The Dems should be part of the next resheduled election and see if the people want them or not

3) If there is a decent Issan Party formed and runs, that want the best for Issan and Thailand they with get her vote and the vote of her friends

5) all partied should agree that if the PM reshedules that this can not be held against her at a later time, but does not forgive her of any other crimes she has committed , if any

6) if the above happens, she and her friends will retun home, ebven if Suthep wants to continue the protest, but reserves the right to return if the PTP go back on their word like they have done many times before

7) if the Democrats can not do there reform issues in the 5 month talked about, then this is their bad luck, and should not stop anothe election

My rights to make these statements

Both my self and all my friends are THAI

1) Fair enough, I hated the amnesty bill, and that was a big mistake made by Government, no doubts

2) The Dems decided by themselves to not run for election. If they changed idea, is their business. This is a Country, not a playschool.

they knew risks, now is their responsibility for the mistake they made. It should be not denied to everyone else a vote just because

they should run for an election they called themselves out. (If the want to run, Mark is practically disappeared).

3) That would be so nice.

4) NA

5) Fair and square

6) Fair and square

7) The Democrats alone have NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER to make any reform. It should be only an independent group chosen by both sides to make reforms. Democrats had their chance to make reforms, and watch where we are.

And I don't think much people here wants to see Thaksin free to take a stroll in any place, he has to pay for his mistakes as everyone else involved in this crazy violent bipolar-ism has to.

I see Thaksin and Suthep as 2 of the main cancer of the actual situation and see them out of daily news and thought of people would be a nice peace of mind.

[Piichai]

"At the meeting, the PM will also raise questions with the EC on whether rescheduling the election would bring the ongoing protests to an end and whether the Democrat Party would contest the rescheduled election."

It's no wonder people are questioning Yingluck's intelligence.

[Spalpeen]

But, yes, that is the story, apparently from someone in PT.

.

"Apparently"? That's your argument? I met a bloke down the pub last night who 'apparently' had a different opinion.

The election on Sunday will put an end to all this anti democracy nonsense.

[Emptyset]

The ancient and( dis ) honourable practice of passing the buck. Who makes the decision not to make a decision ?

The govt carefully blamed the EC for last Sunday's fiasco saying they didn't ask for enough police etc. while the govt abrogated it's responsibility for public order.

I don't know anything about those who compose the EC so do they have police or military training, do they know how to run an internal security operation ?

If they don't then they better learn fast because this govt will happily dump all responsibility onto them and wait to point fingers again when it goes pear shaped.

But it is the EC's job to make sure the election runs smoothly. The caretaker govt isn't supposed to interfere in the process. Yet one can't help but feel they could've done more. But - per the reports on here - the EC had obviously decided not to bother trying to keep polling stations in BKK open should any amount of protesters arrive. Many of them seemed to be closed pretty much as soon as protesters showed up. So what could police have done?

And why were polling stations in the N and NE well protected by police and military when they clearly didn't need as much protection as BKK? Did the EC make different requests for support in different places? Did the govt, police and military make different decisions depending on location? It's hard to know who's at fault here. Probably everyone involved to some degree.

[Crushdepth]

@spalpeen

Have you actually read the OP? I have. Clearly states that the govt is willing to consider rescheduling the election. Logical enough for you?

If it doesn't fit in with his world view it doesn't exist.

[Bluespunk]

But, yes, that is the story, apparently from someone in PT.

.

"Apparently"? That's your argument? I met a bloke down the pub last night who 'apparently' had a different opinion.

The election on Sunday will put an end to all this anti democracy nonsense.

only a partial quote I see. have you checked other papers?

[NongKhaiKid]

The ancient and( dis ) honourable practice of passing the buck. Who makes the decision not to make a decision ?

The govt carefully blamed the EC for last Sunday's fiasco saying they didn't ask for enough police etc. while the govt abrogated it's responsibility for public order.

I don't know anything about those who compose the EC so do they have police or military training, do they know how to run an internal security operation ?

If they don't then they better learn fast because this govt will happily dump all responsibility onto them and wait to point fingers again when it goes pear shaped.

But it is the EC's job to make sure the election runs smoothly. The caretaker govt isn't supposed to interfere in the process. Yet one can't help but feel they could've done more. But - per the reports on here - the EC had obviously decided not to bother trying to keep polling stations in BKK open should any amount of protesters arrive. Many of them seemed to be closed pretty much as soon as protesters showed up. So what could police have done?

And why were polling stations in the N and NE well protected by police and military when they clearly didn't need as much protection as BKK? Did the EC make different requests for support in different places? Did the govt, police and military make different decisions depending on location? It's hard to know who's at fault here. Probably everyone involved to some degree.

You're right about blame too as usually more than enough to go around.

My problem is I can see the EC being responsible for the administrative side of an election but security, policing etc. surely cannot be down to them. As usual it all gets so blurred here and of course people want power without respnsibility.

[BlueNoseCodger]

Wishful Bluesky thinking.

[thaisaregrt]

'THE CARETAKER government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.

A source in the ruling Pheu Thai Party said yesterday that the government was expected to ask the EC to set a new election date. Also, the caretaker PM has reportedly been advised by the party's legal team to ask the EC to shoulder the Bt1.88 billion it would cost to hold an election, the source said.

The election commissioners would also be asked to ensure that no legal action will be taken against the PM or her government if the caretaker Cabinet issues a royal decree rescheduling the election.'

The OP says different.

.

I was right. Logic isn't your strong point. The government clearly has a better grasp of the subtleties of what's going on here and is playing a very clever game. Every move made by the anti democracy mob is turned back against them. Impressive!

you have your facts screwed up, they are not the govt as they resigned, remember. They are the ones that chose to ignore the courts decision and push ahead with the vote so again they are at fault. They are simply temporarily there and have no power other than day to day business, they cannot even take out a loan so they are not legally the govt as you keep trying to point out or do you have a problem with facts that are different to what you want them to be

[Thaddeus]

Wishful Bluesky thinking.

Red sky at night

Farmers delight

Red sky in morning

Central World on fire.

[nong38]

Thats the safe bet and gets the Govt off the hook for the time being but there will be trouble when the election comes as some people will not accept defeat so this political turmoil will roll again for a while yet.

Interested parties must sit down and discuss the future of the country and the way forward, you would think in a normal situation. All sides have to be prepared to give and take, or, so you would think.

Perhaps Thais think in a different way to the rest of the world and they have another solution, trouble is they seem to have to many solutions depending on who you are and who you talk to, all in their own bubble.

[Gweiloman]

Perhaps the caretakers are scared going to court when they push through the feb 2nd election. Wasting a few billion baht more would be heir problem.

So they are starting to give in. Let's see if Chalerm really will have the police shooting at the protesters in an attempt to arrest Suthep.

I guess you and those who "liked" your post read a different article from me.

The way I read it, the caretakers are scared of going to court (and rightly so) IF they DON'T push through with the Feb 2nd election.

Starting to give in? I don't think so. Yet another masterly chess move.