EC: New election within 60 days unlikely

[webfact]

EC: New election within 60 days unlikely

BANGKOK, 9 April 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) says it is very unlikely that a general election will be held within 60 days, given the current political turmoil in the country, but admits that an election is the ultimate solution to the ongoing conflict.

Speaking after a meeting with military top brass and other security-related agencies, the EC said the meeting had agreed that it would be impossible for the country to have a general election within the next 45-60 days, adding that it would have to thoroughly assess the situation especially during the next few months before any decisions could be made.

The EC and security agencies also shared that same view that an election was the best way for the nation to restore peace and unity, while admitting that having a caretaker government for an extended period of time would not bode well for the country as a whole.

On April 22nd, the EC will meet with representatives from 53 political parties and the private sector to listen to all opinions and ideas about how the next general election should be carried out.


-- NNT 2014-04-09

[Dogmatix]

How will the EC set a new election date without a new royal decree? They talk about elections within so many days of a royal decree but there seems no way of issuing one.

[Scamper]

This is a situation that has never happened before. In the strictest sense, the Yingluck administration ceased on March 5, when the date to convene a parliament that satisfied quorum requirements had passed. Pheu Thai and their merry band of men ( and one woman ) are just cheerfully playing house. But nothing's getting done. Cabinet ministers scramble to get in front of the TV cameras just to prove that they are functioning cabinet ministers. Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations. They're like the Partridge Family. Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this. Even if Surapong manages to get everyone off the streets, that doesn't change the fact that there are key judicial verdicts that they will be constitutionally obligated to respect and adhere to.

The key question is - how will Pheu Thai react to the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission ? What if the unthinkable happened - and the rulings were not accepted by Yingluck and Pheu Thai ? What then ?

Edited April 9, 2014 by Scamper

[chotthee]

EC should put off election until Democrats have enough supporters.

I'm afraid 6 million in bangkok and the south is still short.

[thaipod]

Maybe this will the courts more time to bury yingluck and her party and the Dems to have a better game plan for the next election.

[PREM-R]

This is a situation that has never happened before. In the strictest sense, the Yingluck administration ceased on March 5, when the date to convene a parliament that satisfied quorum requirements had passed. Pheu Thai and their merry band of men ( and one woman ) are just cheerfully playing house. But nothing's getting done. Cabinet ministers scramble to get in front of the TV cameras just to prove that they are functioning cabinet ministers. Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations. They're like the Partridge Family. Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this. Even if Surapong manages to get everyone off the streets, that doesn't change the fact that there are key judicial verdicts that they will be constitutionally obligated to respect and adhere to.

The key question is - how will Pheu Thai react to the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission ? What if the unthinkable happened - and the rulings were not accepted by Yingluck and Pheu Thai ? What then ?

Scamper - "Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations."

Ah Scamper, me old duck, you may not have noticed but that nasty Mr. Suthep and his 'peaceful' protesters have blocked entry to government offices in Bangkok, thus making it impossible for them to work there.

Scamper- "Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this."

Well it seems that the EC and the Army DO believe that an election will ensue.

From the OP- "The EC and security agencies also shared that same view that an election was the best way for the nation to restore peace and unity"

[kurtgruen]

Well, looks like Mr T and his puppets are quickly running out of options. I just wish they would get it over with, because most people already know what the outcome will be and who is pulling the stings in this game of chess.

[winstonc]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

[ramrod711]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

My memory isn't what it used to be, but I think it's the middle of July.

[Eric Loh]

How will the EC set a new election date without a new royal decree? They talk about elections within so many days of a royal decree but there seems no way of issuing one.

Dont need a new royal decree if held within legal timeframe. Previous royal decree suffice. Beyond that time frame, it's a problem.

[WoopyDoo]

;it would be impossible for the country to have a general election within the next 45-60 days, adding that it would have to thoroughly assess the situation especially during the next few months before any decisions could be made.'

So if that is the case, how about recommending an overhaul of the election system to get one of the most critical reforms out of the way. Then the Dems will not boycott it and it will have the approval of everyone concerned, especially the PDRC.

So you all had a meeting and not once was it discussed to have that reform at least and to make sure the next election was at least FREE and FAIR!!!

Or are you as an election commission, against reforming your process to make it democratic?

Let's be honest here for a moment.... The only thing preventing elections is that they are not acceptable to everyone until they are completely free and fair for everyone.... Why waste time talking about it when that time can be spent going about a reform that will make them acceptable, then an election can be held without problem.

It is as simple as that really.

Edited April 9, 2014 by WoopyDoo

[Torkmada]

Well, looks like Mr T and his puppets are quickly running out of options. I just wish they would get it over with, because most people already know what the outcome will be and who is pulling the stings in this game of chess.

Not this time.

There will be an election and we all know who will win (again).

Once a people have tasted freedom they will never go back to slavery and oppression.

The only way to form a government in Thailand now is by winning an election - nothing else will be tolerated by the people who are the true owners of the country - the electorate.

[Torkmada]

;it would be impossible for the country to have a general election within the next 45-60 days, adding that it would have to thoroughly assess the situation especially during the next few months before any decisions could be made.'

So if that is the case, how about recommending an overhaul of the election system to get one of the most critical reforms out of the way. Then the Dems will not boycott it and it will have the approval of everyone concerned, especially the PDRC.

So you all had a meeting and not once was it discussed to have that reform at least and to make sure the next election was at least FREE and FAIR!!!

Or are you as an election commission, against reforming your process to make it democratic?

Let's be honest here for a moment.... The only thing preventing elections is that they are not acceptable to everyone until they are completely free and fair for everyone.... Why waste time talking about it when that time can be spent going about a reform that will make them acceptable, then an election can be held without problem.

It is as simple as that really.

Of course they are against making the elections more democratic.

The truer the election reflects the will of the people the greater the margin Thaksin will win by.

That is why the constitution has been twice altered, elections have been twice boycotted and Thaksin governments have been twice illegally overthrown.

The only thing preventing elections are the corrupt institutions (EC & CC & NACC) and a bunch of street thugs.

PTP are the only true democrats in this nation.

[SoilSpoil]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

April 30th 2014 and the Amnesty bill will be history....

But a new PT government will certainly find another loophole to bring Brother no.1 back!

[Ricardo]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

EC should put off election until Democrats have enough supporters.

I'm afraid 6 million in bangkok and the south is still short.

At the last election, in July 2011, the Dems got 11.43 million votes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2011

Please could you give the source of your claim for "6 million" above ?

[Torkmada]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

EC should put off election until Democrats have enough supporters.

I'm afraid 6 million in bangkok and the south is still short.

At the last election, in July 2011, the Dems got 11.43 million votes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2011

Please could you give the source of your claim for "6 million" above ?

Last election Dems got zero votes.

[soalbundy]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

April 30th 2014 and the Amnesty bill will be history....

But a new PT government will certainly find another loophole to bring Brother no.1 back!

That would probably be his death sentence......remember Seh Deng anybody?

[soalbundy]

Well, looks like Mr T and his puppets are quickly running out of options. I just wish they would get it over with, because most people already know what the outcome will be and who is pulling the stings in this game of chess.

Not this time.

There will be an election and we all know who will win (again).

Once a people have tasted freedom they will never go back to slavery and oppression.

The only way to form a government in Thailand now is by winning an election - nothing else will be tolerated by the people who are the true owners of the country - the electorate.

The electorate? oh yeah them.

[Torkmada]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

April 30th 2014 and the Amnesty bill will be history....

But a new PT government will certainly find another loophole to bring Brother no.1 back!

That would probably be his death sentence......remember Seh Deng anybody?

Thailand needs some sort of amnesty bill if it is ever to find peace.

The only other alternative is for one side to completely destroy the other.

No matter who wins that war the victory would come at too great a price.

Better a few crooks get off scott free than thousands of innocents die in the streets.

[rickirs]

"the EC will meet with representatives from 53 political parties and the private sector to listen to all opinions and ideas about how the next general election should be carried out."

Really, the EC has no idea on how to carry out an election? EC has already had one national election this year but, due to its failure to assure all open polls on election day, it failed to meet its constitutional obligations. What a completely incompetent agency. Now it has to assess the “situation” before any decisions could be made for a new election? So now the EC has sole control of when an election will be conducted and will decide when the political “situation” is settled enough. Now it has become part of the political process as well.

Good-bye Constitution, good-bye to the public’s right to vote, good-bye democracy. Thailand is no longer operating within its own Constitution and no longer within a democratic framework. These so-called independent agencies should just be honest to the Thai people and announce that the current interim government shall no longer be recognized and hand the government over to Suthep’s People’s Committee, with permission of the King of course.

[tezzainoz]

This is a situation that has never happened before. In the strictest sense, the Yingluck administration ceased on March 5, when the date to convene a parliament that satisfied quorum requirements had passed. Pheu Thai and their merry band of men ( and one woman ) are just cheerfully playing house. But nothing's getting done. Cabinet ministers scramble to get in front of the TV cameras just to prove that they are functioning cabinet ministers. Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations. They're like the Partridge Family. Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this. Even if Surapong manages to get everyone off the streets, that doesn't change the fact that there are key judicial verdicts that they will be constitutionally obligated to respect and adhere to.

The key question is - how will Pheu Thai react to the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission ? What if the unthinkable happened - and the rulings were not accepted by Yingluck and Pheu Thai ? What then ?

Yinluck will cry and all her cabinet will scream it is unfair

[tezzainoz]

This is a situation that has never happened before. In the strictest sense, the Yingluck administration ceased on March 5, when the date to convene a parliament that satisfied quorum requirements had passed. Pheu Thai and their merry band of men ( and one woman ) are just cheerfully playing house. But nothing's getting done. Cabinet ministers scramble to get in front of the TV cameras just to prove that they are functioning cabinet ministers. Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations. They're like the Partridge Family. Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this. Even if Surapong manages to get everyone off the streets, that doesn't change the fact that there are key judicial verdicts that they will be constitutionally obligated to respect and adhere to.

The key question is - how will Pheu Thai react to the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission ? What if the unthinkable happened - and the rulings were not accepted by Yingluck and Pheu Thai ? What then ?

Scamper - "Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations."

Ah Scamper, me old duck, you may not have noticed but that nasty Mr. Suthep and his 'peaceful' protesters have blocked entry to government offices in Bangkok, thus making it impossible for them to work there.

Scamper- "Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this."

Well it seems that the EC and the Army DO believe that an election will ensue.

From the OP- "The EC and security agencies also shared that same view that an election was the best way for the nation to restore peace and unity"

why did you miss out the reason for all of this in the first place

Thaksin Get Out Of Jail Free Card will have elapsed (run out of Time)

On the count of 3 all sau OOOOhhhhh poor Thaksin

Edited April 9, 2014 by tezzainoz

[Torkmada]

This is a situation that has never happened before. In the strictest sense, the Yingluck administration ceased on March 5, when the date to convene a parliament that satisfied quorum requirements had passed. Pheu Thai and their merry band of men ( and one woman ) are just cheerfully playing house. But nothing's getting done. Cabinet ministers scramble to get in front of the TV cameras just to prove that they are functioning cabinet ministers. Yingluck herself hasn't occupied her office since December. She and her cabinet move about the city to a variety of locations. They're like the Partridge Family. Nobody believes an election will ensue out of this. Even if Surapong manages to get everyone off the streets, that doesn't change the fact that there are key judicial verdicts that they will be constitutionally obligated to respect and adhere to.

The key question is - how will Pheu Thai react to the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission ? What if the unthinkable happened - and the rulings were not accepted by Yingluck and Pheu Thai ? What then ?

Yinluck will cry and all her cabinet will scream it is unfair

Or Bangkok may, for the first time, may truly witness 6 million protesters in her streets demanding their democratic rights.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Torkmada

[tezzainoz]

when are the 180 days up for rubber lips to return the hero...and save our ungrateful souls...

April 30th 2014 and the Amnesty bill will be history....

But a new PT government will certainly find another loophole to bring Brother no.1 back!

That would probably be his death sentence......remember Seh Deng anybody?

Thailand needs some sort of amnesty bill if it is ever to find peace.

The only other alternative is for one side to completely destroy the other.

No matter who wins that war the victory would come at too great a price.

Better a few crooks get off scott free than thousands of innocents die in the streets.

Sorry but the minute that law is no longer

Then all people have died

[Torkmada]

Thailand needs some sort of amnesty bill if it is ever to find peace.

The only other alternative is for one side to completely destroy the other.

No matter who wins that war the victory would come at too great a price.

Better a few crooks get off scott free than thousands of innocents die in the streets.

Sorry but the minute that law is no longer

Then all people have died

The difference between the death toll in our opposing views is that your deaths are figurative whilst mine are literal.

If their is no compromise on amnesty, real people will really die.

Better that no-one dies, wouldn't you agree?

[rubl]

How will the EC set a new election date without a new royal decree? They talk about elections within so many days of a royal decree but there seems no way of issuing one.

Dont need a new royal decree if held within legal timeframe. Previous royal decree suffice. Beyond that time frame, it's a problem.

The previous Royal Decree is no longer valid. An election was held and annullled. As for legal time frame, what the heck are you talking about?

[fcbkk]

Thailand needs some sort of amnesty bill if it is ever to find peace.

The only other alternative is for one side to completely destroy the other.

No matter who wins that war the victory would come at too great a price.

Better a few crooks get off scott free than thousands of innocents die in the streets.

Sorry but the minute that law is no longer

Then all people have died

The difference between the death toll in our opposing views is that your deaths are figurative whilst mine are literal.

If their is no compromise on amnesty, real people will really die.

Better that no-one dies, wouldn't you agree?

you seem to forget that deaths are already a fact.

not because of an amnesty but how the widely accepted idea of "an" amnesty was distorted by you know who.

could a new attempt an an amnesty that is not distorted in favour of Mr T work? perhaps, but i cannot see how PT could be trusted in face of plenty of evidence to the contrary.

and would there be more deaths after an amnesty if it happened?

all i can see is that Mr T would probably agree with you.

[Crushdepth]

It's not all bad. Phuea Thai can now rule indefinitely and legally without bothering with elections. It's every despots dream.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[manstr23]

;it would be impossible for the country to have a general election within the next 45-60 days, adding that it would have to thoroughly assess the situation especially during the next few months before any decisions could be made.'

So if that is the case, how about recommending an overhaul of the election system to get one of the most critical reforms out of the way. Then the Dems will not boycott it and it will have the approval of everyone concerned, especially the PDRC.

So you all had a meeting and not once was it discussed to have that reform at least and to make sure the next election was at least FREE and FAIR!!!

Or are you as an election commission, against reforming your process to make it democratic?

Let's be honest here for a moment.... The only thing preventing elections is that they are not acceptable to everyone until they are completely free and fair for everyone.... Why waste time talking about it when that time can be spent going about a reform that will make them acceptable, then an election can be held without problem.

It is as simple as that really.

Of course they are against making the elections more democratic.

The truer the election reflects the will of the people the greater the margin Thaksin will win by.

That is why the constitution has been twice altered, elections have been twice boycotted and Thaksin governments have been twice illegally overthrown.

The only thing preventing elections are the corrupt institutions (EC & CC & NACC) and a bunch of street thugs.

PTP are the only true democrats in this nation.

Do you live on the north pol ? Elections in Thailand have never been free or without intimidation but with many promises which after the election ultimately failed. As I said before, try to canvass in the north or north-east as an opposite party member and let's see how long you will live. All your rhetoric about democratic and elections are just BS." PTP are the only true democrats in the nation" ??!! are you getting paid to write this garbage. Thaksin likes to rule like his buddy Hen Sen in Cambodia and that is bottom of it.

[cocopops]

;it would be impossible for the country to have a general election within the next 45-60 days, adding that it would have to thoroughly assess the situation especially during the next few months before any decisions could be made.'

So if that is the case, how about recommending an overhaul of the election system to get one of the most critical reforms out of the way. Then the Dems will not boycott it and it will have the approval of everyone concerned, especially the PDRC.

So you all had a meeting and not once was it discussed to have that reform at least and to make sure the next election was at least FREE and FAIR!!!

Or are you as an election commission, against reforming your process to make it democratic?

Let's be honest here for a moment.... The only thing preventing elections is that they are not acceptable to everyone until they are completely free and fair for everyone.... Why waste time talking about it when that time can be spent going about a reform that will make them acceptable, then an election can be held without problem.

It is as simple as that really.

Of course they are against making the elections more democratic.

The truer the election reflects the will of the people the greater the margin Thaksin will win by.

That is why the constitution has been twice altered, elections have been twice boycotted and Thaksin governments have been twice illegally overthrown.

The only thing preventing elections are the corrupt institutions (EC & CC & NACC) and a bunch of street thugs.

PTP are the only true democrats in this nation.

Do you live on the north pol ? Elections in Thailand have never been free or without intimidation but with many promises which after the election ultimately failed. As I said before, try to canvass in the north or north-east as an opposite party member and let's see how long you will live. All your rhetoric about democratic and elections are just BS." PTP are the only true democrats in the nation" ??!! are you getting paid to write this garbage. Thaksin likes to rule like his buddy Hen Sen in Cambodia and that is bottom of it.

In my view this is the key lie that supports the whole thing. The idea that Thailand is somehow incapable of conducting fair elections and therefore anything goes.

Of course there are isolated incidents - there are in all countries. But as far as I know, no credible organization, journalist or even opposition politician has ever claimed that the 2011 election was not won by the party that received the most votes, or that any significant proportion of these votes were obtained through fraud or under duress.

If this is not the case, then please post a link. Just one will do!

Thailand has free and fair elections. If it did not - Mr Suthep's actions would be justified and all decent people should support him. If PT were somehow swindling the Thai people out of their sovereignty, then nobody could possibly argue that the PDRC are in the wrong. But they are not. And so they are.