Thailand's general election set for July 20 or 27

[webfact]

Thailand's general election set for July 20 or 27
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 16 – Thailand's Election Commission (EC) has set either July 20 or 27 as the tentative date for the general election, commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said today.

He said representatives from 70 political parties were invited to a meeting on Tuesday (April 22) to discuss preparations for the nationwide balloting, to be held again after the Feb 2 polls were nullified by the Constitutional Court.

Next week's meeting will decide a suitable date for the general election, though the EC has aimed for July 20 or 27.

He said the EC will meet with the caretaker government late this month to agree on issuing a royal decree to hold the election within 90 days.

Mr Somchai expressed concern on the requirement to endorse 95 per cent of elected candidates within 30 days after the general election, saying the announcement of party-list MPs could not be made unless balloting is successful in every constituency.

If the situation is manageable, the House of Representatives should convene in September and Thailand should have a new government in October, he said.

Mr Somchai said the EC will tentatively endorse a number of elected candidates for the Senate next week but it would not make up to 95 per cent of the total senators – the number required for the opening of the Upper House.

The remaining elected candidates for the Senate will be officially announced on April 29 – the day when the senatorial roll will reach 95 per cent as stipulated, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-16

[MaxLee]

Okay that means, Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts... Amnesty bill alive again, and another 4 years of Thaksinocracy...

Thank you EC, for putting up such a cowardice exit to save your sorry face out of it

[webfact]

EC member Somchai expects new election to be held late July

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn expects that the new election may be held late July.

Posting a message on his Facebook wall, Somchai said he expected that the new election date would be either July 20 or 27.

He said the EC and the government would hold a meeting on April 29 or 30 to select the new election date and he expected that the government would go for July 20 or 27.

Somchai added that the EC would invite 70 political parties to a discussion on April 22 to hear their opinion on the new election date.


-- The Nation 2014-04-16

[moonao]

I guess PTP will win again by an even bigger margin, followed by another judicial coup ....

[Dibbler]

And who will pay the few billion baht to hold another election that like the previous one, is likely to be annulled by the Election Commission because it could not be completed? Taxpayers in this country will again have their money spent wisely for them....

[Scamper]

" Set " apparently means " tentative ". The EC is contemplating a timeline that would have a new administration in by October. But they seem to have just made this announcement on their own bat, as it's clear they still haven't actually met with Pheu Thai yet. It's hard to imagine that two months has past since the election and they're still not face to face. It's basically where we were before, with the same unanswered questions. Will there be elections in all constituencies necessary for a quorum ? How can they guarantee that ? There is so much strangeness to this. The EC is convening a meeting of parties on April 22 but they have yet to meet with Pheu Thai separately. The Senate will be apparently ready by April 29, but then again, Yingluck has resisted opening it, and we have no idea what that will lead to, though a ruling by the Constitutional Court would be the likely outcome. Yingluck is due to defend herself Friday at the Constitutional Court. Will she show up, and if so will she actually answer questions from the judges ? And then there is the key question as to how Pheu Thai will react to the ruling by the Constitutional Court. This optimistic announcement addresses none of these key questions. It seems to occupy its own special place in the universe.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Scamper

[Costas2008]

Okay that means, Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts... Amnesty bill alive again, and another 4 years of Thaksinocracy...

Thank you EC, for putting up such a cowardice exit to save your sorry face out of it

Don't despair my friend.

"Next week's meeting will decide a suitable date for the general election, though the EC has aimed for July 20 or 27."

Aimed.....nothing final.

Too many things will be happening this and next week, that will settle the date of an election........if there is an election.

Anyway, thought the amnesty bill, could last for 6 months, so middle of May should be void.

May be I'm wrong, please, correct me.

[than]

I guess PTP will win again by an even bigger margin, followed by another judicial coup ....

Not sure a lot of Northern citizen are losing faith with actual government, last election shown an erosion of base voter of PTP

and an high number of no vote catch ballot in these districts.........

If they want to win with a large margin they must borrow a lot of money or use state fund for buying vote......

[issanaus]

I guess PTP will win again by an even bigger margin, followed by another judicial coup ....

Not sure a lot of Northern citizen are losing faith with actual government, last election shown an erosion of base voter of PTP

and an high number of no vote catch ballot in these districts.........

If they want to win with a large margin they must borrow a lot of money or use state fund for buying vote......

The haven't finished paying for the promises of the last election - rice, cars student loan ++++

The voters may want to see more cash up front this time as well as being paid for past dues

[moonao]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

[kurtgruen]

This is getting funnier by the minute. Good thing, that this whole farce will be over soon and most likely, long before any other attempt at holding another election.

[MaxLee]

Okay that means, Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts... Amnesty bill alive again, and another 4 years of Thaksinocracy...

Thank you EC, for putting up such a cowardice exit to save your sorry face out of it

Don't despair my friend.

"Next week's meeting will decide a suitable date for the general election, though the EC has aimed for July 20 or 27."

Aimed.....nothing final.

Too many things will be happening this and next week, that will settle the date of an election........if there is an election.

Anyway, thought the amnesty bill, could last for 6 months, so middle of May should be void.

May be I'm wrong, please, correct me.

Let's pray to our gods, you're right pal, this election-collection crap stinks worse than Samut Prakan's garbage fires....

[webfact]

EC says next election can be held in July



BANGKOK: -- The soonest the next election can be held is on July 20 or July 27, said Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn in his Facebook page today (Wednesday).

He said that the Election Commission will meet with the government either on April 29 or 30 to discuss the issuance of a Royal decree to stage the next election which should take place within 90 days.

Unless political situation gets worse, the parliament will be able to convene in September of October, said Mr Somchai.

He is optimistic that the new election will not be declared void by the Constitutional Court.

On April 22, the EC is due to meet with representatives of 70 parties to discuss the next election. Both the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties have promised to be represented at the meeting.

On April 23-24, the EC will announce the Senate elelction result of another batch on potential senators. By April 29, 95 percent of the newly-elected senators will have been endorsed by the EC which means that the Senate will be able to call its first meeting to choose its speaker and then to become fully operational.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-says-next-election-can-held-july/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-16

[issanaus]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

Just remember that you will not have Ko Tee to help "educate voter" and help them vote "the right way"

Hell knows no fury like a lover scorned, 55

[moonao]

hopefully they even get a change to vote, and dont get blocked by fascist yellow shirt thugs this time.

[toryboy1979]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

What an appropriate picture for dear old moonao - a salviating dog! My spies tell me not to get too worked up about this announcement as it is more an objective than a reality. If the election is held - which I honestly doubt will be the case given the decisions that will be made over the next two to three weeks - before the reforms are agreed, the outcome of the election will be the same as Feb 2. Sorry to spoil your day moonao but Granpa Suthep just ani't going to let you or PTP rain on his parade!

[winstonc]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

dont be so childish and angry..whats wrong with ya son..your not thai so why are you worried..

[Thailand]

This is getting funnier by the minute. Good thing, that this whole farce will be over soon and most likely, long before any other attempt at holding another election.

Yes, the last thing Thailand needs is to have the masses to decide what they want.

[Tatsujin]

" Set " apparently means " tentative ". The EC is contemplating a timeline that would have a new administration in by October. But they seem to have just made this announcement on their own bat, as it's clear they still haven't actually met with Pheu Thai yet. It's hard to imagine that two months has past since the election and they're still not face to face. It's basically where we were before, with the same unanswered questions. Will there be elections in all constituencies necessary for a quorum ? How can they guarantee that ? There is so much strangeness to this. The EC is convening a meeting of parties on April 22 but they have yet to meet with Pheu Thai separately. The Senate will be apparently ready by April 29, but then again, Yingluck has resisted opening it, and we have no idea what that will lead to, though a ruling by the Constitutional Court would be the likely outcome. Yingluck is due to defend herself Friday at the Constitutional Court. Will she show up, and if so will she actually answer questions from the judges ? And then there is the key question as to how Pheu Thai will react to the ruling by the Constitutional Court. This optimistic announcement addresses none of these key questions. It seems to occupy its own special place in the universe.

Deals/agreements/arrangements/"outs" are being arranged with those both near and far ... they're all involved behind the scenes.

[Tatsujin]

hopefully they even get a change to vote, and dont get blocked by fascist yellow shirt thugs this time.

There will be no disruptions from the anti-Thaksin side this time around.

[JesseFrank]

On April 23-24, the EC will announce the Senate elelction result of another batch on potential senators. By April 29, 95 percent of the newly-elected senators will have been endorsed by the EC which means that the Senate will be able to call its first meeting to choose its speaker and then to become fully operational.

Why does it take so long to endorse the senators that were elected 2 weeks ago. I assume they were checked if they qualified before the election, and counting can hardly take 1 month.

[bigbamboo]

Suits me.

We shall be away from it all in Europe, enjoying the delights of England and France and watching the World Cup at a respectable hour.

And as an added bonus my wife won't have to pretend to any red shirt friends in CM that she voted Shin.

Edited April 16, 2014 by bigbamboo

[bigbamboo]

This is getting funnier by the minute. Good thing, that this whole farce will be over soon and most likely, long before any other attempt at holding another election.

Yes, the last thing Thailand needs is to have the masses to decide what they want.

Given who they voted for last time you may have a point.

[sweatalot]

I guess PTP will win again by an even bigger margin, followed by another judicial coup ....

when will this nonsence with the "judicial coup" stop?

[Crushdepth]

What's the point? It'll just be another failed and expensive repeat of February. The politicians need to sort their shit out before the election can be held.

[ginjag]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

More like PATHETIC government-failures, before anyone started marching in BKK, all self inflcted, good government do NOT have disgruntled people protesting en mass --no need--everyone content.

You will come down to earth with a crash, remember PTP are not guaranteed to be a party intact in July so who is there left to vote for ??? DON'T WORRY.

[Bluespunk]

I guess PTP will win again by an even bigger margin, followed by another judicial coup ....

Nope. All the current problems stem from PT's economic incompetence, their tendency to intimidate opponents and the law and their obsession with the "give thaksin what he wants" amnesty bill. Their refusal to rule for the benefit of Thailand caused the initial protest movement. If they rule in a consensual manner this time round they won't face the same problems again.

[ginjag]

What's the point? It'll just be another failed and expensive repeat of February. The politicians need to sort their shit out before the election can be held.

Come July 23rd approx we will know who is left on the scene to vote for, before then if some electoral reforms are introduced to illuminate fraud at the ballot box and massive sentences imposed for wrong doers.

[Bluespunk]

PTP will win by a large margin but not because of vote buying, it will be because the opposition are such pathetic failures that have been subverting democracy for the last few months that no body in their right minds would want to vote for them.

I'm sure they will win the largest number of seats (though not a majority of votes), though not for any of the reasons you outline. They should form the next govt but if they continue to govern as the lords and ladies of misrule, then this whole mess will start again. To avoid this they need to introduce policies that are economically viable, stop using their street thugs to intimidate opponents and the judiciary, rule in a consensual manner, abandon all ideas of a blanket amnesty, obey the law, crack down on corruption, pay their bills and most of all accept the idea that being in power does not mean you can act with impunity, the guilty must go to gaol.

[Bluespunk]

hopefully they even get a change to vote, and dont get blocked by fascist yellow shirt thugs this time.

I don't think PAD are active any longer.