Small parties push for early election

[Lite Beer]

Small parties push for early election

BANGKOK: -- Thirty-two small political parties today requested the caretaker prime minister to issue a royal decree to declare that the general election is to take place either on June 15 or 22.

Led by New Democracy Party leader Surathin Picharn to the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense, the small parties intended to hand over a letter to caretaker Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra relating to the date of the new election.

In the letter, the group asked Ms Yingluck to issue a royal decree requiring the election day to fall on June 15, or June 22 at the latest.

Their call came after Tuesday’s meeting between the Election Commission (EC) and 58 political parties. It ended with
the majority supported the poll date of July 20 proposed by the EC.

Mr Surathin, who also attended the talk, said he shared the same view with the rest that the election must take place as soon as possible.

But he said the meeting was a failure, given the EC did not allow live broadcasts of the event, plus no concrete agreement was reached.

He then called on the Democrat Party, which was not present at the forum, to cooperate with others and enter the election process.

Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Pol Maj Gen Thawat Boonfeung, who accepted the letter on Ms Yingluck’s behalf, affirmed he would forward the message to the premier promptly.

He said he agreed that any further delay in the election process could be detrimental to the country.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/small-parties-push-early-election/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=small-parties-push-early-election

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-23

[bigbamboo]

Why didn't they call Thaksin direct?

[h90]

Why didn't they call Thaksin direct?

Maybe they got call before?

[AleG]

Thailand's very own Coalition of the Willing.

[WoopyDoo]

June 15th is only 53 days away..... it wouldn't allow the 60 day organizing and campaigning time required by the EC regulations... so what they are asking for is an election outside the electoral framework..... Typical Thai plastic politicians don't even know their own rules.

Who wants to listen to these little parties... they are a non-entity.... bunch of also rans.

The Dems won't join the election until the EC can guarantee (and put rigid measures in place) for 100% free and fair elections.

That is never going to happen because PTP would NEVER agree to losing their fraudulent advantage.... they know they would get an absolute hammering from the Dems.

I also don't think the EC is interested in free and fair elections either, or they would have made sure they were free and fair a long time ago and the country wouldn't be in the mess it is..... It would have had proper governments.

So stalemate will continue... the Dms won't run and the anti-govs will disrupt it again, and we will all still be sat here talking about it in 3 months time and no further forward.

[seajae]

seems it was cheaper for thaksin to pay these guys than the farmers and better chances of what he wants to happen.

[Dr Bruce]

June 15th is only 53 days away..... it wouldn't allow the 60 day organizing and campaigning time required by the EC regulations... so what they are asking for is an election outside the electoral framework..... Typical Thai plastic politicians don't even know their own rules.

Who wants to listen to these little parties... they are a non-entity.... bunch of also rans.

The Dems won't join the election until the EC can guarantee (and put rigid measures in place) for 100% free and fair elections.

That is never going to happen because PTP would NEVER agree to losing their fraudulent advantage.... they know they would get an absolute hammering from the Dems.

I also don't think the EC is interested in free and fair elections either, or they would have made sure they were free and fair a long time ago and the country wouldn't be in the mess it is..... It would have had proper governments.

So stalemate will continue... the Dms won't run and the anti-govs will disrupt it again, and we will all still be sat here talking about it in 3 months time and no further forward.

60 days is the maximum time allowed under the constitution for a government to call an election. The minimum is 45 days.

The EC has chosen to completely ignore the constitution over the last 4 months.

[rubl]

Deception in perception continues.

Those 32 small political parties would normally not even get a single seat, so why are they in a hurry? Just the principle, or a repeat of 2006 with Pheu Thai predecessor TRT 'helping' small parties to compete in the April 2006 general elections?

May be a devilish plan by the opposition to get the Pheu Thai led caretaker government to issue a Royal Decree whereas the government is pushing for the Election Commission to do such?

Or just being seen to be 'democratic' without the need to do anything, just blaming the others?

[rubl]

June 15th is only 53 days away..... it wouldn't allow the 60 day organizing and campaigning time required by the EC regulations... so what they are asking for is an election outside the electoral framework..... Typical Thai plastic politicians don't even know their own rules.

Who wants to listen to these little parties... they are a non-entity.... bunch of also rans.

The Dems won't join the election until the EC can guarantee (and put rigid measures in place) for 100% free and fair elections.

That is never going to happen because PTP would NEVER agree to losing their fraudulent advantage.... they know they would get an absolute hammering from the Dems.

I also don't think the EC is interested in free and fair elections either, or they would have made sure they were free and fair a long time ago and the country wouldn't be in the mess it is..... It would have had proper governments.

So stalemate will continue... the Dms won't run and the anti-govs will disrupt it again, and we will all still be sat here talking about it in 3 months time and no further forward.

60 days is the maximum time allowed under the constitution for a government to call an election. The minimum is 45 days.

The EC has chosen to completely ignore the constitution over the last 4 months.

Somewhat unfair, my dear chap. At least the first of those four months the E.C. was busy trying to get the Feb2 election going with dates later in Feb to counter blocked stations. Also the CC was asked to rule regarding the legality of the Feb4 elections or at least it's proceedings.

So, the EC didn't 'completely' ignore the constitution.

[BillyBobThai]

I want to play government too, can I ?? I know that I am a falang, but I still want to play government like the Thai's do. We can make a board game like Monopoly, with real money. He or she who steals the most money will become prime minister for the next quater.

Edited April 23, 2014 by BillyBobThai

[smutcakes]

June 15th is only 53 days away..... it wouldn't allow the 60 day organizing and campaigning time required by the EC regulations... so what they are asking for is an election outside the electoral framework..... Typical Thai plastic politicians don't even know their own rules.

Who wants to listen to these little parties... they are a non-entity.... bunch of also rans.

The Dems won't join the election until the EC can guarantee (and put rigid measures in place) for 100% free and fair elections.

That is never going to happen because PTP would NEVER agree to losing their fraudulent advantage.... they know they would get an absolute hammering from the Dems.

I also don't think the EC is interested in free and fair elections either, or they would have made sure they were free and fair a long time ago and the country wouldn't be in the mess it is..... It would have had proper governments.

So stalemate will continue... the Dms won't run and the anti-govs will disrupt it again, and we will all still be sat here talking about it in 3 months time and no further forward.

60 days is the maximum time allowed under the constitution for a government to call an election. The minimum is 45 days.

The EC has chosen to completely ignore the constitution over the last 4 months.

Somewhat unfair, my dear chap. At least the first of those four months the E.C. was busy trying to get the Feb2 election going with dates later in Feb to counter blocked stations. Also the CC was asked to rule regarding the legality of the Feb4 elections or at least it's proceedings.

So, the EC didn't 'completely' ignore the constitution.

Haha i love it. PTP allegedly do something against the constitution "Impeach them they cry"

CC completely disregard the very thing they are there for "well you know, they were a little busy and i think its okay for them to do it"

Looks like the little parties are getting antsy to get their hands back in the cookie jar. Just proceed without the opposition. They have chosen not to participate, have not put any reform plan forward to even consider, have not even attempted to win additional support in this time of uncertainty, so what is everyone waiting for.

If the Dems could sort their s*it out, they would probably have a very good chance of winning, but they simply appear to have no interest in modernizing or even trying to win an election anymore. If they are not even trying, i fail to see what the point of the party is in its current guise.

[Thaddeus]

What these small parties want is not important.

The reason why they want it is.

[rickirs]

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

Dr. Bruce stands correct.

June 15th is only 53 days away..... it wouldn't allow the 60 day organizing and campaigning time required by the EC regulations... so what they are asking for is an election outside the electoral framework..... Typical Thai plastic politicians don't even know their own rules.

Who wants to listen to these little parties... they are a non-entity.... bunch of also rans.

The Dems won't join the election until the EC can guarantee (and put rigid measures in place) for 100% free and fair elections.

That is never going to happen because PTP would NEVER agree to losing their fraudulent advantage.... they know they would get an absolute hammering from the Dems.

I also don't think the EC is interested in free and fair elections either, or they would have made sure they were free and fair a long time ago and the country wouldn't be in the mess it is..... It would have had proper governments.

So stalemate will continue... the Dms won't run and the anti-govs will disrupt it again, and we will all still be sat here talking about it in 3 months time and no further forward.

60 days is the maximum time allowed under the constitution for a government to call an election. The minimum is 45 days.

The EC has chosen to completely ignore the constitution over the last 4 months.

"So, the EC didn't 'completely' ignore the constitution."

Dr. Bruce is correct.

The Constitution required elections to be held within 60 days after the dissolution of the Parliament. That meant according to the Constitution the elections were to be held no later than December 1, 2013. It does not address any alternate election schedules beyond that timetable.

So what followed were challenges by the EC against the government to have elections within the 60-day period (October-November 2013)because it wasn't prepared to do so - in violation of the Constitution. When the administration cited the Constitution 60-day timetable for the election, the EC went to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. The Court accepted the EC filing that automatically moved the election date beyond the constitutional mandate; essentially the Constitutional Court also violated the Constitution.

So then the EC and the Government agree to a February 2, 2014 date for the election that gave the EC three months to prepare. In March 2014 the Constitutional Court nullified that election, setting up another election. But apparently after having being involved in the electorial process for six months, the EC is still incapable of delivery an election within 60 days; the ONLY reference in the Constitution for rescheduling elections. So the EC continues to violate the Constitution with its own ineptness to be kind and with its own political agenda to be unkind.

[rubl]

The Constitution required elections to be held within 60 days after the dissolution of the Parliament. That meant according to the Constitution the elections were to be held no later than December 1, 2013. It does not address any alternate election schedules beyond that timetable.

So what followed were challenges by the EC against the government to have elections within the 60-day period (October-November 2013)because it wasn't prepared to do so - in violation of the Constitution. When the administration cited the Constitution 60-day timetable for the election, the EC went to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. The Court accepted the EC filing that automatically moved the election date beyond the constitutional mandate; essentially the Constitutional Court also violated the Constitution.

So then the EC and the Government agree to a February 2, 2014 date for the election that gave the EC three months to prepare. In March 2014 the Constitutional Court nullified that election, setting up another election. But apparently after having being involved in the electorial process for six months, the EC is still incapable of delivery an election within 60 days; the ONLY reference in the Constitution for rescheduling elections. So the EC continues to violate the Constitution with its own ineptness to be kind and with its own political agenda to be unkind.

You may have missed that only on the 10th of December 2013 Ms. Yingluck submitted the Royal Decree to dissolve the House which H.M. the King approving the same day.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/687976-his-majesty-approves-royal-decree-to-dissolve-parliament

So Feb 2nd in 2014 was the date many expected upon hearing the news of parliament dissolution.

October and November 2013 were 'only' months where the Yingluck government tried to push through that blanket amnesty bill lots of people try to bury out of memory. Even the 'fighting for justice for our dead' UDD managed to forget all about it. Still that doesn't mean parliament wasn't still (barely) functioning.

PS your story is also faulty in other aspects, consistency not being your strongest point I guess. If you think the election should have been held Dec 1st at the latest and we had them Feb2 than the E.C. didn't have three months to prepare but (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan) FOUR!

Edited April 24, 2014 by rubl