July election goes ahead even if Yingluck is ousted: EC

[webfact]

July Election Goes Ahead Even If Yingluck Is Ousted: EC
By Khaosod English

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shops for goods at a stall near the Office of Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence, 1 May 2014.

BANGKOK - The general election on 20 July will still go ahead even if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is removed by the court, an Election Commissioner confirms.

Ms. Yingluck is facing a charge of unlawfully removing a former head of the National Security Council, and the Constitutional Court will soon rule on the case. If found guilty, Ms. Yingluck and her Cabinet members might be stripped of their caretaker positions.

Supporters of the government have expressed their concern that a guilty verdict will result in a political vacuum and subsequently scuttle the new general election, scheduled by the Election Commission to take place on 20 July; the previous general election on 2 February was invalidated by the Constitutional Court on the ground that the poll's voting session and candidate registration were not conducted on the same day across the kingdom.

But Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters today that the 20 July election will not be affected even if the court ruled that Ms. Yingluck has to leave the office.

"Many political factors will take place in May, especially the Constitutional Court's ruling on Ms. Yingluck's status as a Prime Minister," Mr. Somchai said, "But it won't affect the election arrangement, because any other caretaker Prime Minister or Government can submit the [election date] to the King for his royal approval."

Mr. Somchai added that he would present a draft of the Royal Decree that will pave the legal way for the next election to the current caretaker Cabinet by 6 May.

He believes it won't take much time for the government will consider the wording of the Royal Decree and submit the decree to His Majesty the King for the final approval.

Mr. Somchai also refused to comment on the reports that Democrat Party chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva will unveil his "blueprint" of political reforms for Thailand tomorrow (3 May), stating that the reporters should ask the government and public for their opinions on the issues instead of the EC.

Nevertheless, Mr. Somchai said the EC is willing to participate in the "blueprints" and postpone the election accordingly if the government agreed to Mr. Abhisit's plan.

"It's up to the government, because the EC will not comment on the matter," Mr. Somchai said, "We would like to be the last person to make decision."

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1399019316


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-02

[Scamper]

Indeed, the Constitutional Court's ruling, the National Anti-Corruption Commission's ruling, and possible Senate impeachment hearings will certainly colour the weeks ahead. It is rather incredible that an election is even being considered under these circumstances. To be sure, it's never happened before. If any thing, the conditions for an election are actually worse now than they were in December.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Scamper

[webfact]

POLITICS
CAPO calls meeting with EC to prepare for election

BANGKOK: -- The Centre of Administration for Peace and Order (CAPO) is seeking a meeting with Election Commission (EC) to map out preparations for the election in July.

CAPO's chief sent an invitation to the EC's chairman to the meeting, which will be held on May 8 at 2pm, and aims to prepare the way for a smooth and peaceful election.

The February 2 snap election was marred by closures of polling stations and violence and was cancelled altogether in several areas including the southern region, the stronghold of the Democrat Party.

The Constitutional Court later had the election annulled as it was not held in one day as required by the charter.

CAPO also asked the public not to follow the antigovernment People's Democratic Reform Committee’s chief Suthep Thaugusban in blocking the election.

It noted that the punishment for obstructing an election was both a jail term and a fine as well as a ban on voting rights for five years.


-- The Nation 2014-05-02

[moonao]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

[marko kok prong]

Elections,blueprints,they are all talking out of their rear ends.

[ginjag]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

[h90]

As there are 5 of the Shinawatra clan in top positions, there is plenty of choice.

[MaxLee]

The EC is simply bought and manipulated by Thaksin,... bye bye, NACC, Constitutional court and any other independent agency in Thailand. Once Pheu Thai is elected again, the true vengeance makeover of Thailands MAFIA Justice system is gonna be revamped like a terror-storm....

wanna bet?

[Melyn]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

You can lead a horse to water.. But you can't make him think

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Melyn]

As there are 5 of the Shinawatra clan in top positions, there is plenty of choice.

That would keep Suthep in Bangkok

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tatsujin]

Love to see how much time she is spending on her "defense" for the upcoming "trials" . . . rather than doing that, she's out "campaigning" again on the election trail . .

[JAG]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

Oh dear, for what seems like the hundredth time: when all those millions of people voted for PT, which allowed them (PT) to win a clear majority of seats in parliament, they cast their votes in the full knowledge that a vote for PT was a vote, amongst other things, for Yingluck as prime minister.

You may argue that she is unqualified, inexperienced, incompetent, corrupt, a puppet; you may dislike her intensely, (I rather gather that is the case, but then you seem to dislike an awful lot of things intensely); but you cannot change the fact that she was installed as Prime Minister constitutionally, with the clear consent of the electorate after an election recognised within Thailand and internationally as fair and open.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 2, 2014 by JAG

[BlueNoseCodger]

The EC is simply bought and manipulated by Thaksin,... bye bye, NACC, Constitutional court and any other independent agency in Thailand. Once Pheu Thai is elected again, the true vengeance makeover of Thailands MAFIA Justice system is gonna be revamped like a terror-storm....

wanna bet?

No, the EC was picked by a committee of Senators, which is 50% appointed and has a strong Democrat bias. And the EC appointments made in December, two days after the election was called, attempted to negotiate away democracy with Suthep, tried every trick to cancel and delay the election and finally failed to run an election. Which Yingluk was set to win easily.

So you are doing the old political trick of simply accusing the opposition of your own crimes.

So in the light of this, we can see what you anticipate if the Democrats take power:

Once Democrats are appointed again, the true vengeance makeover of Thailands MAFIA Justice system is gonna be revamped like a terror-storm....

So 2010 all over again? Massacres, lies about fake Cambodia Terrorists, Snipers, cancelled November elections, Massive censorship, collapsing economy, a final attempt to rig the election,... more of that. I have to agree with you, that is what the Democrats will do.

[fab4]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

The PTP is still going as a political party , The PM dissolved parliament. Your post is not fact. The Electorate vote for MPs of their favoured party. If that political party wins enough seats the get the chance to form a government. All the MPs that are voted in or get in on the party list then vote for the person who they want as PM. It follows that the party with a majority of seats will get their choice of PM. The Party has already chosen who would be PM if the have the requisite amount of seats to win that vote and this choice is well known by the supporters of that particular party.

Ergo, by voting for their representative of a political party, they are endorsing that parties choice for PM i.e that portion of the electorate are "voting" for their PM.

It's not rocket science, or fiction.

[ginjag]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

Oh dear, for what seems like the hundredth time: when all those millions of people voted for PT, which allowed them (PT) to win a clear majority of seats in parliament, they cast their votes in the full knowledge that a vote for PT was a vote, amongst other things, for Yingluck as prime minister.

You may argue that she is unqualified, inexperienced, incompetent, corrupt, a puppet; you may dislike her intensely, (I rather gather that is the case, but then you seem to dislike an awful lot of things intensely); but you cannot change the fact that she was installed as Prime Minister constitutionally, with the clear consent of the electorate after an election recognised within Thailand and internationally as fair and open.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

All this BS---but at the end of the day INSTALLED is the word, tell Moonao, he hasn't clicked yet.

I do not give a toss if she was from Montenegro, the fact is after all this waffle as per norm. She was a lousy P.M. and the PTP were the followers,

so all the democratically elected pills you talk about is NOT the point.

How they governed is. and now on it's knees----Sorry I don't swallow your pugwash.

You have lost some marbles if you think I hate the woman, I do not know her, I speak of her role over 3 years.

I'll ask you the same as all your 10 mates there, list me 3 years of memorable achievements PTP have helped Thailand with. ???? no answer on this sure---sums you lot up.

[lungmi]

What's about the 300 and more MP's involved in illegal voting for the Amnesty Bill?

[WoopyDoo]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

Oh dear, for what seems like the hundredth time: when all those millions of people voted for PT, which allowed them (PT) to win a clear majority of seats in parliament, they cast their votes in the full knowledge that a vote for PT was a vote, amongst other things, for Yingluck as prime minister.

You may argue that she is unqualified, inexperienced, incompetent, corrupt, a puppet; you may dislike her intensely, (I rather gather that is the case, but then you seem to dislike an awful lot of things intensely); but you cannot change the fact that she was installed as Prime Minister constitutionally, with the clear consent of the electorate after an election recognised within Thailand and internationally as fair and open.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Fair, open constitutional????

Have you ever seen an election here?

Where are ANY of those qualities you claim were present.

You need to get your head out of your red ar-se mate.

[lungmi]

What's about the 300 and more MP's involved in illegal voting for the Amnesty Bill?

[ginjag]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

The PTP is still going as a political party , The PM dissolved parliament. Your post is not fact. The Electorate vote for MPs of their favoured party. If that political party wins enough seats the get the chance to form a government. All the MPs that are voted in or get in on the party list then vote for the person who they want as PM. It follows that the party with a majority of seats will get their choice of PM. The Party has already chosen who would be PM if the have the requisite amount of seats to win that vote and this choice is well known by the supporters of that particular party.

Ergo, by voting for their representative of a political party, they are endorsing that parties choice for PM i.e that portion of the electorate are "voting" for their PM.

It's not rocket science, or fiction.

For all that usual rant, The P.M. removed herself auto by dissolving Parliament, to C PM.

YOUR votes you talked about were a fantastic choice for a rocket science government. I will ask you , name me achievements in the 3 years of government if you cannot you lose an argument about a competent government.---remember courts are having to bring you saviors to count. Well done keep supporting a defunct regime.

[Orac]

How can all the cabinet members be stripped of their caretaker positions if the judgement goes against them - some were not in the cabinet at the time the decision was made to move him.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[bigbamboo]

The question is who will Thaksin choose to take her place as the next PTP figurehead if she is forced to step down. There have been some very disturbing rumours that it could be either Surapong or Chalerm but that could just be his way of scaring everyone to get behind his baby sister.

[TimCM]

How can all the cabinet members be stripped of their caretaker positions if the judgement goes against them - some were not in the cabinet at the time the decision was made to move him.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If they are then no one could seriously claim that the so called, independent agencies are anything of the sort. To the yellow supporters out there in the TVU, shouldn't the pretend democrat party have all been dismissed for corruption as well then, some of which involved their hero, the great almighty leader suthep?

I think that the only way Thailand can recover and reform is if another country took over their government for a while. But the Thai army has never lost a war, so no one would be game to try

[gabruce]

The EC is simply bought and manipulated by Thaksin,... bye bye, NACC, Constitutional court and any other independent agency in Thailand. Once Pheu Thai is elected again, the true vengeance makeover of Thailands MAFIA Justice system is gonna be revamped like a terror-storm....

wanna bet?

No, the EC was picked by a committee of Senators, which is 50% appointed and has a strong Democrat bias. And the EC appointments made in December, two days after the election was called, attempted to negotiate away democracy with Suthep, tried every trick to cancel and delay the election and finally failed to run an election. Which Yingluk was set to win easily.

So you are doing the old political trick of simply accusing the opposition of your own crimes.

So in the light of this, we can see what you anticipate if the Democrats take power:

Once Democrats are appointed again, the true vengeance makeover of Thailands MAFIA Justice system is gonna be revamped like a terror-storm....

So 2010 all over again? Massacres, lies about fake Cambodia Terrorists, Snipers, cancelled November elections, Massive censorship, collapsing economy, a final attempt to rig the election,... more of that. I have to agree with you, that is what the Democrats will do.

The BP has an article today on the Senate and their forming two panels. It looks like a pretty reasonable process to me. The screening committee comprises 15 members: presidents of the Supreme Court, Constituional Court and Supreme Administrative Court, as well as rectors of all state univerisites, who elect among themselves to seven, and representatives of parties with MPs, who vote among themselves to five. Looks fairly well balanced to me.

Then the senate sets up a panel to review the recommended candidate. In this case for the NACC it is 50% elected and 50% appointed senators. Again, seemingly reasonable. Any complaints about the makeup would have to be pretty detailed and personal to have any validity.

I also disagree about what the Democrats would do if they end up being elected. I think their government would result in a more prosperous and stable Thailand. Of course the UDD could prevent the stability if they chose.

[Robby nz]

All the talk about an election on 20 July seems to discount that it is still a tentative date as no Royal Decree has as yet been issued and as the EC man says it can still be changed.

There are so many things that will eventuate in the next couple of weeks that will have a bearing on the political scene that it seems silly to go ahead with fixing a date for an election before those are known.

For instance, should all the 300 odd politicians be banned by the constitution court that would mean that they could not stand as candidates.

If they were on an accepted list of either party or constituency candidates then they would have to be removed from those lists leaving the parties involved with no candidates and no opportunity to replace them.

[ChrisY1]

Ahhhhh...Yingluck and Pongsapat....what a delightful pair......I can se them sharing a bowl of Som Tum..............lovely ))

[BlueNoseCodger]

All the talk about an election on 20 July seems to discount that it is still a tentative date as no Royal Decree has as yet been issued and as the EC man says it can still be changed.

There are so many things that will eventuate in the next couple of weeks that will have a bearing on the political scene that it seems silly to go ahead with fixing a date for an election before those are known.

For instance, should all the 300 odd politicians be banned by the constitution court that would mean that they could not stand as candidates.

If they were on an accepted list of either party or constituency candidates then they would have to be removed from those lists leaving the parties involved with no candidates and no opportunity to replace them.

True, I'm assuming it will be written next week, and so we're looking at around 12th for the Royal Decree, and an election registration in early June (giving Democrat MPs about 6 days to switch to another party, since they need to switch their registration to another party 30 days in advance of registering for elections).

I'm assuming they won't try their soft coup ultimately, the military has said it won't save them, and their elderly general backer has recently been disempowered. So really they only have themselves.

So that leaves elections and democracy.

Democrats are clearly not running (despite Abhisit's coyness), that means to get a decent opposition, I'm seeking the best MPs jump ship to other parties. They'll win seats, and still be in the opposition grouping, with the same Parliamentary vote and same value as if they were a Democrat.

After all, a good MP is a good MP regardless of his party, and the voters want to vote for their chosen MP, even if the party he is in is run by one of the elite idiots.

Edited May 2, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[ginjag]

All the talk about an election on 20 July seems to discount that it is still a tentative date as no Royal Decree has as yet been issued and as the EC man says it can still be changed.

There are so many things that will eventuate in the next couple of weeks that will have a bearing on the political scene that it seems silly to go ahead with fixing a date for an election before those are known.

For instance, should all the 300 odd politicians be banned by the constitution court that would mean that they could not stand as candidates.

If they were on an accepted list of either party or constituency candidates then they would have to be removed from those lists leaving the parties involved with no candidates and no opportunity to replace them.

True, I'm assuming it will be written next week, and so we're looking at around 12th for the Royal Decree, and an election registration in early June (giving Democrat MPs about 6 days to switch to another party, since they need to switch their registration to another party 30 days in advance of registering for elections).

I'm assuming they won't try their soft coup ultimately, the military has said it won't save them, and their elderly general backer has recently been disempowered. So really they only have themselves.

So that leaves elections and democracy.

Democrats are clearly not running (despite Abhisit's coyness), that means to get a decent opposition, I'm seeking the best MPs jump ship to other parties. They'll win seats, and still be in the opposition grouping, with the same Parliamentary vote and same value as if they were a Democrat.

After all, a good MP is a good MP regardless of his party, and the voters want to vote for their chosen MP, even if the party he is in is run by one of the elite idiots.

No argument as it's not worth it. You magnificent 7 on TVF that cannot hear wrong of Yingluck or PTP. Have them another 4 years, let them govern the same and you lot have nothing to argue about, as your denial is sickening.

Each day each week I ask any of you hardcore pro gov posters to give me a list of PTP government achievements over the 3 years, I mean mega ones ???

you lot cannot but shout about everything else from being elected, miss the 3 years and now in defense wanting another re run, blaming everyone for Yinglucks mismanagement. pathetic.

[fab4]

At the end of the day it won't matter if Yingluck is judicially removed from her position. Voters are all too familiar with the pattern, vote their PM in, judicial coup removes them...They might win the battle but they can't win the war against democracy, another candidate will step up to take her place, and will be voted into power by the electorate.

Just to remind you the 1000, time SHE was not voted in by the electorate. The P.M. removed herself, the PTP self destructed-----you are a complete wind up. My post is fact--unlike your fiction posts.

Oh dear, for what seems like the hundredth time: when all those millions of people voted for PT, which allowed them (PT) to win a clear majority of seats in parliament, they cast their votes in the full knowledge that a vote for PT was a vote, amongst other things, for Yingluck as prime minister.

You may argue that she is unqualified, inexperienced, incompetent, corrupt, a puppet; you may dislike her intensely, (I rather gather that is the case, but then you seem to dislike an awful lot of things intensely); but you cannot change the fact that she was installed as Prime Minister constitutionally, with the clear consent of the electorate after an election recognised within Thailand and internationally as fair and open.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

All this BS---but at the end of the day INSTALLED is the word, tell Moonao, he hasn't clicked yet.

I do not give a toss if she was from Montenegro, the fact is after all this waffle as per norm. She was a lousy P.M. and the PTP were the followers,

so all the democratically elected pills you talk about is NOT the point.

How they governed is. and now on it's knees----Sorry I don't swallow your pugwash.

You have lost some marbles if you think I hate the woman, I do not know her, I speak of her role over 3 years.

I'll ask you the same as all your 10 mates there, list me 3 years of memorable achievements PTP have helped Thailand with. ???? no answer on this sure---sums you lot up.

Isn't that strange, you make a statement, you're put right ,you lose the argument, then you say it's not the point anyway despite it being precisely the point you started the debate over and finally by way of deflection, you ask a completely unrelated question.

Poor, just poor.

[bristolgeoff]

One will join the brother soon ,then one is already chosen to replace

[brewsterbudgen]

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

All the talk about an election on 20 July seems to discount that it is still a tentative date as no Royal Decree has as yet been issued and as the EC man says it can still be changed.

There are so many things that will eventuate in the next couple of weeks that will have a bearing on the political scene that it seems silly to go ahead with fixing a date for an election before those are known.

For instance, should all the 300 odd politicians be banned by the constitution court that would mean that they could not stand as candidates.

If they were on an accepted list of either party or constituency candidates then they would have to be removed from those lists leaving the parties involved with no candidates and no opportunity to replace them.

True, I'm assuming it will be written next week, and so we're looking at around 12th for the Royal Decree, and an election registration in early June (giving Democrat MPs about 6 days to switch to another party, since they need to switch their registration to another party 30 days in advance of registering for elections).

I'm assuming they won't try their soft coup ultimately, the military has said it won't save them, and their elderly general backer has recently been disempowered. So really they only have themselves.

So that leaves elections and democracy.

Democrats are clearly not running (despite Abhisit's coyness), that means to get a decent opposition, I'm seeking the best MPs jump ship to other parties. They'll win seats, and still be in the opposition grouping, with the same Parliamentary vote and same value as if they were a Democrat.

After all, a good MP is a good MP regardless of his party, and the voters want to vote for their chosen MP, even if the party he is in is run by one of the elite idiots.

No argument as it's not worth it. You magnificent 7 on TVF that cannot hear wrong of Yingluck or PTP. Have them another 4 years, let them govern the same and you lot have nothing to argue about, as your denial is sickening.

Each day each week I ask any of you hardcore pro gov posters to give me a list of PTP government achievements over the 3 years, I mean mega ones ???

you lot cannot but shout about everything else from being elected, miss the 3 years and now in defense wanting another re run, blaming everyone for Yinglucks mismanagement. pathetic.

In which case (and I tend to agree with you) they will be voted out of office at the election.

Democracy is really quite simple you know.