EC to meet Thai govt on draft of Royal Decree for snap election

[webfact]

NEW ELECTION
EC to meet govt on draft of Royal Decree for snap election
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Security will be beefed up for the Election Commission (EC) members who meet today with government representatives to discuss the drafting of a Royal Decree on holding an election.

EC secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said the EC had requested a police escort for five EC members, besides routine checks at their residences. However, he did not request bullet-proof vehicles or ask police for security officials to be permanently stationed at the EC members' houses to keep them under guard at all time. He did not think the present situation warranted such high security.

He said acting PM Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkan-jana and caretaker PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn would attend the meeting with the EC at its office.

He said the EC had arranged a reserve office following anti-government protest rallies to pressure them against holding a poll. Puchong said the EC had met with its legal specialists for two hours on Monday.

Those at the meeting had presented differing views over whether the EC had the authority to inform the acting PM to draft a Royal Decree to schedule a new poll date if there was a riot or a crisis.

He said the meeting also shared views on whether the acting PM had the power to request a royal endorsement or countersign royal commands. Puchong stopped short of revealing further details of the discussion.

Responding to the People's Democratic Reform Committee's call to have high court chiefs meet with independent agencies to nominate a non-partisan PM, Puchong said the EC needed to decide whether it would meet with any agency for discussions.

Meanwhile, Niwattumrong said today's meeting might be held at the Royal Thai Air Force Academy.

The election should be based on the same resolution that it should be on July 20. However, there could be small adjustment if necessary, he said.

Niwattumrong insisted he and his government had full authority to submit the Royal Decree on the election.


-- The Nation 2014-05-14

[Suriya4]

Suthep is the government.

[MaxLee]

"NEW ELECTION

EC to meet govt on draft of Royal Decree for snap election"

Election-Collection... How much are you getting paid up your behinds from Dubai????

[noitom]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

[MaxLee]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

[Dr Bruce]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

[whybother]

Snap election?

[thesetat2013]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Dr Bruce]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

[thesetat2013]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

The PTP win because they block other electorates to talk with the minority in the north the same way they tore down the PDRC rally site there and the same way they threatened club owners and had their scheduled performers cancelled because they performed for the protestors also. If the PTP allow their stronghold to see other pointa of view they would lose all

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[airconsult]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

The PTP win because they block other electorates to talk with the minority in the north the same way they tore down the PDRC rally site there and the same way they threatened club owners and had their scheduled performers cancelled because they performed for the protestors also. If the PTP allow their stronghold to see other pointa of view they would lose all

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Pardon? You seem to believe it's all one-sided this intimidation? It occurs in the south and central thailand as well - remember 2011?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/521784-thai-democrat-mp-khanchit-sought-in-murder-case/

And, please remember he was never arrested for that shooting, as Abhisit kept him on as a member of the democrat party so he could use his MP immunity.

Basically what you're therefore saying is that PTP has a greater number of people.

[thesetat2013]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

The PTP win because they block other electorates to talk with the minority in the north the same way they tore down the PDRC rally site there and the same way they threatened club owners and had their scheduled performers cancelled because they performed for the protestors also. If the PTP allow their stronghold to see other pointa of view they would lose all

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Pardon? You seem to believe it's all one-sided this intimidation? It occurs in the south and central thailand as well - remember 2011?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/521784-thai-democrat-mp-khanchit-sought-in-murder-case/

And, please remember he was never arrested for that shooting, as Abhisit kept him on as a member of the democrat party so he could use his MP immunity.

Basically what you're therefore saying is that PTP has a greater number of people.

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[michaelscottfan]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

Who makes up these "right leaders"? The Dems? If we're picking the lesser of the two evils I'd say the Reds have the right of it.

[srsv1238]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

if that is the will of the Thai people, who are we to judge?

[newcomer71]

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

As you recognized that both parties use the same methods to gain votes, let's disband both parties and ban the high ranks politicians. We will have a better country then. Not just disbanding PTP as the other side will continue their practice anyway, no changes.

[The stuttering parrot]

Good finally a positive move.

20th July sounds fair enough!

[thesetat2013]

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

As you recognized that both parties use the same methods to gain votes, let's disband both parties and ban the high ranks politicians. We will have a better country then. Not just disbanding PTP as the other side will continue their practice anyway, no changes.

I have been sayin that for months. Both need to be removed from politics as they are both self serving

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[roquefort]

thesetat2013, on 14 May 2014 - 08:22, said:

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

As you recognized that both parties use the same methods to gain votes, let's disband both parties and ban the high ranks politicians. We will have a better country then. Not just disbanding PTP as the other side will continue their practice anyway, no changes.

I have been sayin that for months. Both need to be removed from politics as they are both self serving

And who exactly are you going to replace them with?

Do you know of any moral, high minded, non-corrupt politicians in Thailand who only have the interest of the country at heart?

[Utley]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Do you put any thought into what you say before you speak?

[focus27]

The Suthepistas' tactics to disrupt elections have worked once and will work again. Short of personal armed escorts for every voter, beefing up security will do very little as only a small number of constituencies need to be disrupted. We've been here before.

The reason why the tactics have worked is because of the 95% quorum rule to open the House of Reps. Remove that requirement and the whole strategy falls apart. Voting within the House requires a simple majority of sitting MPs (50% +1) so that 95% rule has allowed a small minority to disrupt a whole nation. That rule is illogical and unnecessary given that the business of the House never requires 95% of MPs to attend.

[thesetat2013]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Do you put any thought into what you say before you speak?

Sure!! Do you?

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NanLaew]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them. So of course the PTP will win again and again. So until their are free and fair elections and the PTP start allowing others to campaign in their stronghold then every election is fixed and Thaksins group will be the winners

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

The PTP win because they block other electorates to talk with the minority in the north the same way they tore down the PDRC rally site there and the same way they threatened club owners and had their scheduled performers cancelled because they performed for the protestors also. If the PTP allow their stronghold to see other pointa of view they would lose all

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Pardon? You seem to believe it's all one-sided this intimidation? It occurs in the south and central thailand as well - remember 2011?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/521784-thai-democrat-mp-khanchit-sought-in-murder-case/

And, please remember he was never arrested for that shooting, as Abhisit kept him on as a member of the democrat party so he could use his MP immunity.

Basically what you're therefore saying is that PTP has a greater number of people.

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Nice of you to CONSISTENTLY bugger up the nice quote tree that TV provides for you but I scavenged your radical but rather naive hypothesis here.

If Thailand really wants democracy then they need to disband the PTP. PTP wins every election becausr they intimidate, threaten and harass any other party that goes north to campaign. Sibve this is where the electorate majority live these people are bombarded with only what the PTP tell them.

Your contention that there's a huge north/north-east electorate that the PTP bought and paid for isn't apparent in the map from the last election results. The 'red peril' is a lot closer to Bangkok than some care to acknowledge. Pay particular attention to the zoomed-in Bangkok & 'burbs bit.

By the same token, how do you account for the predominantly Democrat southern vote? Or do you subscribe to the fanciful idea that they collectively have the only unique and true idea of what Thailand's democracy is all about?

Edited May 14, 2014 by NanLaew

[thesetat2013]

thesetat2013, on 14 May 2014 - 08:22, said:

I remenber however the north does hold the majority of people and their votes decide the outcome of elections.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

As you recognized that both parties use the same methods to gain votes, let's disband both parties and ban the high ranks politicians. We will have a better country then. Not just disbanding PTP as the other side will continue their practice anyway, no changes.

I have been sayin that for months. Both need to be removed from politics as they are both self serving

And who exactly are you going to replace them with?

Do you know of any moral, high minded, non-corrupt politicians in Thailand who only have the interest of the country at heart?

Cant say that i do heheeee! But we all know for sure that each of these parties are corrupt. Weed them out as soon as their true colors are shown :-)

I know it is retoric and will never happen. The same happens in the US. Either the republicans or the democrats win and the third party always loses.

[stickyrice2000]

For goodness sake, it is about time the EC is doing their job. Forget Suthep and his followers. There are millions of innocent citizens who are impacted with this stalemate.

[Piichai]

There are problems on both sides, but PTP win because many people believe that it is the only party that represents the rural poor. Every time that the PM that represents the people is taken away, the people just get behind the next one.

Reforms are shorthand for jerrymandering to prevent the people voting for who they want. I expect the circle to contiue for many years until the Amart weaken and Thailand moves to democracy and freedom. This is just one small battle in a long war.

Reform is shorthand for removing nepotism and cronyism, and requiring transparency, just to name a few.

[Scamper]

" Puchong said the EC had met with its legal specialists for two hours on Monday. Those at the meeting had presented differing views over whether the EC had the authority to inform the acting PM to draft a Royal Decree to schedule a new poll date if there was a riot or a crisis. He said the meeting also shared views on whether the acting PM had the power to request a royal endorsement or countersign royal commands. "

This is beyond question the most important part of this story. Niwattumrong was picked by Pheu Thai by a means not found in the constitution. Therefore, he has not the constitutional authority to set an election date. Pheu Thai supporters can bang their heads against a wall all they want to - but to be sure - this can be successfully and constitutionally challenged in court. Pheu Thai has brainwashed their supporters with the fiction that the EC simply has to do what they say - for so long, that they believe it. But it is constitutionally the other way around. And it's always been the other way around - despite what Pheu Thai has said and done. And if the EC feels that there is a riot or a crisis ( the later being the case here ) they can advise against an election. In fact, they did - before the February 2 election. Pheu Thai simply ignored it. And look what happened. The EC isn't like Pheu Thai. They can't just say - oh well, 3.8 billion baht, we'll just try again - who knows, maybe this time it will work. They have a responsibility to see if an election can be peacefully held. And if they're not confident of that, they have to say so. Also, if the PM has not been picked through constitutional means, they have to take that into account. The only thing Niwattumrong does is go around and say " I'm legitimate, I'm legitimate. " Sorry. That doesn't make it so.

[rickirs]

There is no "snap election" per se.

According to the 2007 Constitution, "snap elections" were to take place no later than 60 days following dissolution of parliament. That would have meant elections for a new parliament and prime minister would have occurred before December 1, 2013.

Instead, because of unconstitutional delays caused by both the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court, the election was held on February 2, 2014. Then because the PDRC illegaly blocked voters from voting at 10% of the polls (Electoral Law - Chapter 1, Part 7, Section 62, "No person shall commit any act without an authorization to prevent an elector to cast a ballot or obstruct or delay an elector to go to the polling place, to enter into the place for casting a ballot or to reach such place within the polling time."), the EC held followup voting at those 10% polls within two weeks in compliance with the Constitution - Chapter 1, Part 1, Section 7/1, "The Election Commission shall complete an election within thirty days of the polling day." Then the Constitutional Court unconstitutionally nullified the February 2, 2014 voting because the EC allowed followup voting at 10% of the blocked polls.

Whatever elections are held now or two years from now as proposed by PDRC, they can no longer be considered "snap elections."

[NanLaew]

There is no "snap election" per se.

According to the 2007 Constitution, "snap elections" were to take place no later than 60 days following dissolution of parliament. That would have meant elections for a new parliament and prime minister would have occurred before December 1, 2013.

Instead, because of unconstitutional delays caused by both the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court, the election was held on February 2, 2014. Then because the PDRC illegaly blocked voters from voting at 10% of the polls (Electoral Law - Chapter 1, Part 7, Section 62, "No person shall commit any act without an authorization to prevent an elector to cast a ballot or obstruct or delay an elector to go to the polling place, to enter into the place for casting a ballot or to reach such place within the polling time."), the EC held followup voting at those 10% polls within two weeks in compliance with the Constitution - Chapter 1, Part 1, Section 7/1, "The Election Commission shall complete an election within thirty days of the polling day." Then the Constitutional Court unconstitutionally nullified the February 2, 2014 voting because the EC allowed followup voting at 10% of the blocked polls.

Whatever elections are held now or two years from now as proposed by PDRC, they can no longer be considered "snap elections."

As stated above and frequently on related threads, the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court flaunt their constitutional obligations as they already see themselves as above any constitutionally mandated oversight. The rewrite of the Constitution by the military after the last coup enshrines the concept that nobody will be allowed to challenge the status quo that serves the Bangkok-based royalists, elitists and their vast power base. The aftermath of any 'non-desirable' political party winning an election (three times now?) and the subsequent actions of the Constitutional Court that CONSISTENTLY refuses to allow any challenges to what certain people in Bangkok prefer.

The sycophants have not finished feeding yet so please, please don't presume to change this.

[toybits]

Reform that makes it impossible for the Kwai voters to select the people that they want?

If you have a problem with Democracy - are you suggesting you would prefer an Oligarchy composed of the elite who are anti-Taksin?

The rest of the world has their eyes on Thailand - watching every move and laughing with every mistake it commits...

"Thailand - from Hero to Zero!!!"

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

[NanLaew]

have an election - get on with it for the sake of the Thai people.

That would mean automatic victory for Thaksin, and back to business as usual...

That is the problem with democracy, the people vote for the wrong leaders. Only way to prevent democracy is to have reform before elections to ensure the people vote for the selected Party.

Reform that makes it impossible for the Kwai voters to select the people that they want?

If you have a problem with Democracy - are you suggesting you would prefer an Oligarchy composed of the elite who are anti-Taksin?

The rest of the world has their eyes on Thailand - watching every move and laughing with every mistake it commits...

"Thailand - from Hero to Zero!!!"

Indulge me while I place your post in its proper hierachy. Why some people want their post to be first and foremost defeats me... but I digress.

The rest of the world has what now? I don't know how this fallacy kicked off but if you asked the 'rest of the world' about the current political hiatus in Thailand, I would wager that 90% of respondents would say, "Isn't Taiwan where they have regular fisticuffs in parliament?"