Pheu Thai still firm to push for an election in 60 days



BANGKOK, 21 April 2014 (NNT) - The Pheu Thai Party is aiming to push the Election Commission (EC) to hold a new round of general election within 60 days, while the Democrat Party urges the agency to find a measure to convince all sides to accept the election before setting the date for the new poll.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party spokesperson, Prompong Nopparit, announced that the party would maintain its stance on supporting an election within 60 days during its meeting with the EC. He said that Pheu Thai Party Leader Jarupong Ruengsuwan and the party’s head of legal team Phokin Pollakul would attend tomorrow’s meeting between the EC and representatives of all political parties.

Mr. Prompong stressed the EC’s earlier decision to hold the election within 90 days was considered too late, saying the nation would suffer from a massive opportunity loss, while demanding the EC to heed to the majority’s vote should most of the political parties agree to Pheu Thai’s proposed election timeframe. He also urged the opposition Democrat Party to enter the race, warning that the party may face dissolution if it insists on boycotting the election.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party Deputy Leader, Ong-Art Klampaibul, urged the EC to seek a way to convince all sides to accept the new national poll before scheduling an election date, reasoning that another round of public backlash and poll annulment may take place as the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) remains firm on its stance of having political reform before the poll.

Nonetheless, Mr. Ong-art said the Democrat Party would send its representatives to attend tomorrow’s meeting, saying a discussion would be a good start toward an exit from the ongoing political conflict.

-- NNT 2014-04-21

Prompong reminds me of a sinister guy at the Indiana Jones movie

Basically...... force it to be free and fair otherwise the same mess will ensue for sure until eventually the penny drops and the EC decide to make sure that severe penalties surely will be imposed for violating election rules.

Nothing less will be acceptable to the Dems....... and why should it be?

Why should PTP be allowed to carry a massive advantage into elections with all their flouting of the rules with their little red dobermans making sure everyone votes the way they should???

Time to dissolve parties for violations..... Then see if PTP are so cocky about wanting an election so fast.

Edited April 21, 201412 yr by WoopyDoo

When PT gonna get firm about their convicted members presenting themselves at the jail gate. There are a few so far, yet they pretend they can set the laws.

He also urged the opposition Democrat Party to enter the race, warning that the party may face dissolution if it insists on boycotting the election.

Pray tell, when will Prompong go to jail? Who is he to advise or threaten the Democrat party. He does not have the power to dissolve the party, and even if he did, what would prevent them from reappearing under another name, as the PTP is so fond of doing. It just irritates PTP to distraction that the "democracy" they like to talk about has all these rules that prevent them from acting like dictators.

From the Earth to Prompong -

- The Democratic party would not be disqualified as a party if they decided to boycott as the February 2 election was nullified. But your " reaching out skills " I'm sure are deeply appreciated.

- Even in the event of an election where the vote was not blocked, a massive " no " vote in Bangkok and Southern constituencies would guarantee a quorum-less parliament.

- Stop issuing threats to everything that moves.

Of course the PTP wants an election within 60 days (or earlier) versus 90 days as they know the bad news is just going to continue to rack-up against Yinluck, her cabinet, and the ruling party (PTP). Yinluck and the PTP are already trying every delaying tactic they can think off in trying to delay NACC and Court pending decisions due out within 30 days or so and know they probably have no chance in delaying these decisions past 60 days. Plus, the longer they have to wait for an election the more votes they will lose.

From the Earth to Prompong -

- The Democratic party would not be disqualified as a party if they decided to boycott as the February 2 election was nullified. But your " reaching out skills " I'm sure are deeply appreciated.

- Even in the event of an election where the vote was not blocked, a massive " no " vote in Bangkok and Southern constituencies would guarantee a quorum-less parliament.

- Stop issuing threats to everything that moves.

how would a "no" vote influence the quorum?

Of course the PTP wants an election within 60 days (or earlier) versus 90 days as they know the bad news is just going to continue to rack-up against Yinluck, her cabinet, and the ruling party (PTP). Yinluck and the PTP are already trying every delaying tactic they can think off in trying to delay NACC and Court pending decisions due out within 30 days or so and know they probably have no chance in delaying these decisions past 60 days. Plus, the longer they have to wait for an election the more votes they will lose.

These are the ONLY reasons. asap, their last ditch chance. Remember the reason Yingluck wanting FEB election, same thing but then she was a near sure winner---an unfair one at that. Now things are being cleaned up the reds don't like it, as they see their vote dwindling, who cares who gets in--as long as there are no human waste parties involved.

The 'Democrats' need to understand that there is going to be an election. They can choose to be part of the democratic process or resign themselves to being nothing more than a footnote in the history of Thai politics.

The 'Democrats' need to understand that there is going to be an election. They can choose to be part of the democratic process or resign themselves to being nothing more than a footnote in the history of Thai politics.

Totally agree with you but you forgot part of your comment in that you should have said 'after the reforms are put in place'. I think everybody except the flawed personalities in PTP and their 'red' supporters agree that if elections are to be held they must be on a level playing field. If the Democrats agree to anything less they will lose the vote of the South, so it really is a no brainer for them. So don't anticipate an election before July/August at the earliest and then only then if Kuhn Suthep agrees the terms and reforms are acceptable.

Thailand should be so grateful to Kuhn Suthep and I think in time it will be, that he had the drive to do something about the current system

A long drawn out election process serves only to continue the instability. Thailand needs the House back asap as there are fiscal costs to not being able to operate the government. What we have now is a non government where normal operating expendures are precluded and where spending is overseen by a non elected entity. Multiple governments have election laws that require elections to be held within 30 to 60 days after the call. 90 -120+days is too long. What exactly will be achieved by delaying save for more economic damage to occur. Get it over and done with. If the Democrats win, so be it.

Edited April 21, 201412 yr by geriatrickid

This is starting to sound a lot like a Feb 2 election deja vu.

Bit drastic wanting to go ahead with elections, surely not the way forward allowing those uneducated having an influence on what they want for their country.

A long drawn out election process serves only to continue the instability. Thailand needs the House back asap as there are fiscal costs to not being able to operate the government. What we have now is a non government where normal operating expendures are precluded and where spending is overseen by a non elected entity. Multiple governments have election laws that require elections to be held within 30 to 60 days after the call. 90 -120+days is too long. What exactly will be achieved by delaying save for more economic damage to occur. Get it over and done with. If the Democrats win, so be it.

In normal circumstances I would have agreed with you about the delay, but current circumstances are far from normal. If the election should by any chance go ahead it will be a case of 2 Feb all over again. It would appear that the PTP agenda has a sense of urgency to utilise the current flawed system which favours them and to ensure that their place at the head of the trough queue is preserved, it is certainly not in the interest of the country or financial prudence unless of course, you are referring to their particular bank balances.

The solution is simple: An interim government where all the current key players are not involved. Agree the reforms that can be put in place - say by the end of the year- and then hold the election. At this juncture it may be necessary for the military to be put on alert, just in case the 'reds' don't like it, which is a distinct possibility.

Thailand should not nor need to, to rush into a further crisis.

Basically...... force it to be free and fair otherwise the same mess will ensue for sure until eventually the penny drops and the EC decide to make sure that severe penalties surely will be imposed for violating election rules.

Nothing less will be acceptable to the Dems....... and why should it be?

Why should PTP be allowed to carry a massive advantage into elections with all their flouting of the rules with their little red dobermans making sure everyone votes the way they should???

Time to dissolve parties for violations..... Then see if PTP are so cocky about wanting an election so fast.

The PTP are always admonishing the EC for not doing their job. Why don't they stop interfering and let them get on with it as that is what they want them to do.

If the EC have designated the election dates as late July, then July it is, now butt out!!!

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Basically...... force it to be free and fair otherwise the same mess will ensue for sure until eventually the penny drops and the EC decide to make sure that severe penalties surely will be imposed for violating election rules.

Nothing less will be acceptable to the Dems....... and why should it be?

Why should PTP be allowed to carry a massive advantage into elections with all their flouting of the rules with their little red dobermans making sure everyone votes the way they should???

Time to dissolve parties for violations..... Then see if PTP are so cocky about wanting an election so fast.

They dissolved them in the past and up they all pop with another name , all senior party members should also be banned from politics for life

This caretaker government has NO option to pursue an election within 60 days. The Thai constitution of 2007 clearly states that, if they take a different path the courts will be able to call the election un constructional again.

It is for Suthep to decide when and where to have an election. Not PT.

The 'Democrats' need to understand that there is going to be an election. They can choose to be part of the democratic process or resign themselves to being nothing more than a footnote in the history of Thai politics.

yes there will be an election but the choose to take part or not won't change much as it will be nullified like the 2nd Feb election.

A long drawn out election process serves only to continue the instability. Thailand needs the House back asap as there are fiscal costs to not being able to operate the government. What we have now is a non government where normal operating expendures are precluded and where spending is overseen by a non elected entity. Multiple governments have election laws that require elections to be held within 30 to 60 days after the call. 90 -120+days is too long. What exactly will be achieved by delaying save for more economic damage to occur. Get it over and done with. If the Democrats win, so be it.

Making Thailand a read democracy has it's price. Just holding an election would mean just more time lost which should be spent in getting reforms under way.

PTP would like an election because they know that the majority of the public will elect them.

If Suthep had not created the terrible street activities and had instead informed the public in a professional manner the political details of his party in order to create a better political administration for the country.

The Thai electorate will then decide which party would be electable and if Suthep's political outline is appreciated by the public then his party might be elected and PTP will be in opposition.

Anybody have any idea why the Constitution required elections within 60 days after disslution of the parliament and selection of an interm PM? It didn't say 90 days, 120 days or a "whenever evrybody is happy." There should have been some reasoning for a 60-day timetable and considering the Democrats after their election in 2007 took no issue of it then, why would anybody now do so? Maybe because the drafters of the constitution felt anything beyond 60-days was and untenable disruption of government and of people's right to conduct elections.

EC still expresses concerns that again the Democrats/PDRC may repeat their disruption on elections day and wants to extend the schedule as far off as possible to encourage parties to settle their political conflicts BEFORE the election. Well you know, that's what an election is all about. The PEOPLE settle political conflicts with THEIR VOTE and not with their whistles, guns, demonstrations, occupations, etc.. So EC needs to get going and fulfill its responsibility to DELIVER AN ELECTION in accordance with the constitution and not attempt to deliver political solutions.