EC: Vote schedule unaffected by court review of Public Referendum Act

EC: Vote schedule unaffected by court review of Public Referendum Act

BANGKOK, 7 June 2016 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) believes that the Constitutional Court’s review of the Public Referendum Act will not affect the date of the referendum on the draft charter.

Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has noted that the matter is an ongoing development, as the court has not yet agreed to accept the petition submitted by Office of the Ombudsman. In the meantime, the Election Commissioner called for patience and said that no one can rush the court's deliberation.

Mr. Somchai said that if the court finds the Public Referendum Act is in violation of the 2014 Interim Constitution, the verdict will obligate all related organizations to take the necessary steps to rectify the issue. He also clarified that the EC was not the body that drafted the law, and therefore is not authorized to make any amendments to it.

The Election Commissioner expressed confidence that regardless of the ruling, many other parts of the Act remain valid and other related laws will still be in effect to help usher in the referendum on August 7 as scheduled.


-- NNT 2016-06-07