DPM Wissanu: Election will take place in 2017

[webfact]

DPM Wissanu: Election will take place in 2017

BANGKOK, 19 April 2016 (NNT) – A deputy prime minister has assured the country that voters really will be going to the polls in 2017.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, said on Monday that he considers the Network of Academics for Civil Rights’ announcement to oppose the new draft Constitution an academic view, and not an attempt to manipulate opinion.

However, Mr. Wissanu maintains that it remains to be seen how the academics present their views and if there is any distortion of facts, before it can be determined if they are breaking any law.

Concerning opposition to the draft charter, the deputy prime minister said that the Interior Ministry has already suggested that some 50 million eligible voters have the ultimate power to decide if the country’s new version of its highest law will be accepted or rejected.

He also denied that there hasn't been any preparation of a back-up plan to cope with a situation in which the draft charter does not pass the public referendum.

Nevertheless, Mr. Wissanu confirmed that a general election will still take place in 2017 even if the draft Constitution does not receive public approval.


-- NNT 2016-04-19

[Reigntax]

Yes, sure. We believe you!

Has the mad monk given the PM approval for this date yet?

[ratcatcher]

Yes, sure. We believe you!

Has the mad monk given the PM approval for this date yet?

...the mad monk...."

Gosh, is there only one "mad monk"? They seem to be as common as upturned buses.

[Thailand]

I believe there will be elections in 2017 but there will be no way certain parties, persons will have any chance of winning and very little will actually change.

[NongKhaiKid]

' WILL take place in 2017 ' ! Wow, what a definitive statement.

What's unsaid of course is the little rider ' unless prevailing circumstances make an election impossible, impractical etc etc ' and the junta can easily come up with a suitable scenario.

[MaxLee]

Thailand, the hub of daily April fools...

[Thechook]

Who predicted this, the chickens that help people with their lottery numbers?

[mtls2005]

He also denied that there hasn't been any preparation of a back-up plan to cope with a situation in which the draft charter does not pass the public referendum.

Nevertheless, Mr. Wissanu confirmed that a general election will still take place in 2017 even if the draft Constitution does not receive public approval.

I can't see how he can confirm a general election in 2017, with so many unknowns and no preparation of a "back-up plan"?

[tuanku]

He also denied that there hasn't been any preparation of a back-up plan to cope with a situation in which the draft charter does not pass the public referendum.

Nevertheless, Mr. Wissanu confirmed that a general election will still take place in 2017 even if the draft Constitution does not receive public approval.

I can't see how he can confirm a general election in 2017, with so many unknowns and no preparation of a "back-up plan"?

The new charter is the back-up plan, should it pass. Plan A is the one they aren't telling you about, where the charter fails the referendum and Prayuth [or more accurately the men with the hand up the glove puppet] gets to make up his very own constitution.

[tuanku]

[Somtamnication]

He has the dates wrong. Not 2017, but 7120.

[Srikcir]

He also denied that there hasn't been any preparation of a back-up plan to cope with a situation in which the draft charter does not pass the public referendum.

Denying that something has not happened is an admission that it did happen.

And that would be the truth!

January 28^th – Wissanu said that there is no Plan B in case the draft constitution fails to be endorsed in the referendum.

February 3^rd - Prayut stated that if the draft charter fails to receive public endorsement, a contingency plan has been prepared.

February 11^th – Statement by Wissanu that if the draft was rejected in the referendum the government would amend the draft and have it promulgated without another referendum.

April 7^th – Wissanu said that if the people vote against the draft charter in the referendum, the government will consider drafting another one based on past constitutions. The 2014 interim constitution would first have to be amended to enable the government to implement its solution. Wissanu hinted that a new constitution could be drafted from the 1997, 2007 or draft constitutions. According to the Deputy Premier, this new constitution would be adopted without a public vote.

April 15^th – Wissanu said he could not go into detail regarding the government's contingency plan for if the public votes against the draft charter. However, Wissanu disclosed that the first step would be to have the 2014 interim constitution (actually now the endorsed Interim Constitution) amended. (only the NCPO can amend the Interim Constitution)

Wissanu said the government would eventually be forced to produce a new charter. He said it could resemble previous constitutions or draft constitutions created by charter drafters assembled during the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration.

If the above isn't Plan B surely it must be Plan C.

[Eric Loh]

He has the dates wrong. Not 2017, but 7120.

It will be 2017 after all no matter how situation developed, the junta will comes up top. It's a no win situation for democracy. Referendum voted down and the junta will "re-write" and no second chance for another poll. The next government will be coalition of parties with no majority and from these various parties, someone that the military can control will be PM. Even if the PM can't be control, the constitution is full of bobby traps that will trip up and ensure a junta PM. We can wave democracy goodbye.