Caretaker govt to cooperate with EC on new poll

[webfact]

Caretaker govt to cooperate with EC on new poll
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 25 – Thailand's caretaker government is willing to work with the Election Commission (EC) in setting an appropriate date for the new general election, a Cabinet member said today.

Varathep Rattanakorn, caretaker minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, said a new general election should be held as soon as possible and the government will submit a royal decree for His Majesty the King’s endorsement, setting the election date, if requested by the EC.

The Constitution Court last week nullified the Feb 2 general election, reasoning that the balloting was not held in a single day as stipulated by the Constitution.

The Feb 2 election was held nationwide--except for 28 constituencies in the South where disruption prevented candidates from applying for the candidacies.

Concerning a move to appoint an interim prime minister to replace Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr Varathep said all quarters should stop any move against the Constitution.

He would not comment on the disclosure of a list of candidates for interim prime minister by Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikua, who is concurrently caretaker deputy commerce minister.

Meanwhile, the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) held the second day of Bangkok’s march to urge people to join this Saturday’s major rally to repeat the group’s call for national reform before an election is held.

PDRC secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban led the 8-km march from Lumpini Park, the PDRC rally site, along Rama IV Road into the Wireless Road, Petchburi Road, Asoke, Sukhumvit, Ratchdamri and back to Lumpini Park. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-03-25

[Scamper]

While Nuttawut is carrying on the proud UDD tradition of offering yet another ridiculous conspiracy theory - where one presumed participant incredibly includes a man who is presently 81 years old - Pheu Thai have finally realized - at long last - that they are not getting any election anytime soon without working with the EC. We'll see how far this new attitude takes them. Clearly, refusing to talk to them, ordering them to resign, and suing them for 3.8 billion baht didn't have quite the desired effect of propelling a new election forward as they had hoped.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Scamper

[Tatsujin]

Have they finally seen the light? You have to work "with" people not just "tell" them what to do, slander them, accuse them, threaten them, intimidate them etc ...

[antimedia]

Now we will work with the EC but the elections should be held as soon as possible. Got news for you Thaksin, while you and any of your family are still there you have to hopes; no hope and bob hope. Futhermore there will be no successful election until reform takes place, this is the wish of the sane people.

[SpermBank]

New elections should be held as soon as possible eh?

Why has it taken until now to say that? (4 days later)... Why not say this on Friday after the ruling if it is so important to hold them ASAP??

Just make sure that any discussions are between EC, Dems, PTP and PDRC and get an agreed date and an assurance of 100% untainted elections and that includes all the tricks Thaksin gets up to during election run up.

Make sure these are written into the rules with mandatory banning orders and prison sentences for offenders.

The Dems, PDRC and the EC will go for this, but I doubt that the PTP will.... Which speaks volumes.

Edited March 25, 2014 by SpermBank

[Pib]

BANGKOK, March 25 – Thailand's caretaker government is willing to work with the Election Commission (EC) in setting an appropriate date for the new general election, a Cabinet member said today.

This has got to be painful for the PTP....they much prefer the "my way or the highway" approach which so far has just caused more conflict and most likely loss of votes in the next election...and more people probably beginning to realize that keeping the Shinawatra Family in power just maybe ain't the best for Thailand.

[than]

Is not PT who not recognize the Constitution court authority ?

Now they agree to run another poll, what PT want to hide with this move ?

[Pib]

Is not PT who not recognize the Constitution court authority ?

Now they agree to run another poll, what PT want to hide with this move ?

They got no choice but to have another poll...but hopefully this time they will listen to recommendations by the EC instead of sticking their fingers in their ears. The PTP has pretty much fought/disagreed with the EC throughout the polling process....that is, using their approach of "my way or the highway."

[lovetotravel]

Have they finally seen the light? You have to work "with" people not just "tell" them what to do, slander them, accuse them, threaten them, intimidate them etc ...

They have no choice. If Yingluck is found guilty in the next few weeks, then an independent PM will be appointed, reforms may be enacted, and their time at the trough will be over. Love it!!

[MunterHunter]

Is not PT who not recognize the Constitution court authority ?

Now they agree to run another poll, what PT want to hide with this move ?

They got no choice but to have another poll...but hopefully this time they will listen to recommendations by the EC instead of sticking their fingers in their ears. The PTP has pretty much fought/disagreed with the EC throughout the polling process....that is, using their approach of "my way or the highway."

And it was "My way or the highway" - except it was the EC's Highway.

[Pib]

Have they finally seen the light? You have to work "with" people not just "tell" them what to do, slander them, accuse them, threaten them, intimidate them etc ...

They have no choice. If Yingluck is found guilty in the next few weeks, then an independent PM will be appointed, reforms may be enacted, and their time at the trough will be over. Love it!!

Well, Yinluck's tour of duty as PM will be over but the PTP who is still loyal to the Shinawatra Family (but a waning loyalty I think) will still be in power. Until the PTP decides marching blinding behind the Shinawatra Family is not be the best political (and survival) agenda not many real reforms will happen....and it will ultimately take the voters to express that to the PTP. Time will tell.

[ggold]

Have they finally seen the light? You have to work "with" people not just "tell" them what to do, slander them, accuse them, threaten them, intimidate them etc ...

They have no choice. If Yingluck is found guilty in the next few weeks, then an independent PM will be appointed, reforms may be enacted, and their time at the trough will be over. Love it!!

Well, Yinluck's tour of duty as PM will be over but the PTP who is still loyal to the Shinawatra Family (but a waning loyalty I think) will still be in power. Until the PTP decides marching blinding behind the Shinawatra Family is not be the best political (and survival) agenda not many real reforms will happen....and it will ultimately take the voters to express that to the PTP. Time will tell.

Isn't there a petition against 308 PTP politicians for disqualification after voting for the illegal constitutional amendments? When she falls so do they!

[rickirs]

If PDRC once again blockades poll places, the Government might try to call the elections finished. The Court ruled that followup elections cannot be held for those polls not allowed to open if not on the same day as the rest of the election polls. So it might be interesting to see if the Court will also rule the election is still nullified because the election was not completed due to some the polls not being open on election day. If the Court still nullifies the election, then clearly the Court is operating in a disfunctional manner that is not in the best interest of the voting public, contrary to the spirit of the constitution, and supportive for the termination of the PTP government.

The Government should also get a ruling on whether advanced voting is valid as it is not held on the same day as scheduled national elections. So one expect the Court to take the opportunity to either nullify advanced voting or the regularly scheduled elections since they are not held on the same day as the advanced voting.

[oldsailor35]

How many times, under the direction of Suthep, boycott an election before they are disbanded.

[oldsailor35]

If PDRC once again blockades poll places, the Government might try to call the elections finished. The Court ruled that followup elections cannot be held for those polls not allowed to open if not on the same day as the rest of the election polls. So it might be interesting to see if the Court will also rule the election is still nullified because the election was not completed due to some the polls not being open on election day. If the Court still nullifies the election, then clearly the Court is operating in a disfunctional manner that is not in the best interest of the voting public, contrary to the spirit of the constitution, and supportive for the termination of the PTP government.

The Government should also get a ruling on whether advanced voting is valid as it is not held on the same day as scheduled national elections. So one expect the Court to take the opportunity to either nullify advanced voting or the regularly scheduled elections since they are not held on the same day as the advanced voting.

Good question ! But i see double standards purely for the convenience of the Dems and PRDC here.

[rametindallas]

Have they finally seen the light? You have to work "with" people not just "tell" them what to do, slander them, accuse them, threaten them, intimidate them etc ...

They have no choice. If Yingluck is found guilty in the next few weeks, then an independent PM will be appointed, reforms may be enacted, and their time at the trough will be over. Love it!!

I don't think she has to be found guilty to be forced to resign. She only needs to be formally charged.

[rametindallas]

How many times, under the direction of Suthep, boycott an election before they are disbanded.

Twice and the February 2 boycott doesn't count as it was annulled as if it never happened.