Thailand's next election in exactly one year - deputy PM

[webfact]

Thailand's next election in exactly one year - deputy PM

REUTERS

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures as he arrives at a weekly cabinet meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - An election to restore democracy in military-ruled Thailand will take place a year from now, the government said on Wednesday, affirming for the first time widespread expectations a vote the military had promised for this year will be postponed.

 

"One year from today, there'll be elections," Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters.

 

The military government that came to power in a 2014 coup had repeatedly said a general election would be held in 2017, even after the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13 raised doubts about the timing, given a one-year period of official mourning for the revered monarch.

 

Wissanu said the conclusion of the junta's election timeline could not be clearly set down as a new constitution, a key part of the junta's plans to restore democratic rule, is being amended.

 

The military-backed constitution was approved in a referendum last year.

 

It has been awaiting endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father in December, but last month, the king's office asked for several changes to clauses related to royal power in the draft, a rare intervention by a sitting Thai monarch.

 

Wissanu said on Tuesday the government had nearly finished the revision and would submit the amended version for royal endorsement by Feb. 18.

 

The king has 90 days to approve it.

 

Political activity has largely ceased in Thailand to mark the period of mourning for King Bhumibol.

 

The party that led the government ousted in the 2014 coup, which is loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was himself ousted in a 2006 coup, said earlier it would not object to a slight delay in the election if for royal prerogatives.

 

(Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-09

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[Reigntax]

Does he mean the elections that were guaranteed by tbe PM to be held last year  and this year.?

 

And next year, of course due to unforseen reasons will be delayed until 2019, then 2020......

[candide]

It reminds me of an old serie....

[tx22cb]

Previous announcements on election dates by the PM himself over the past 2 years have proved to be wrong, so why should we believe a mere Deputy PM?

[webfact]

CDC uncertain about completion date for organic laws
By Khanittha Theppajorn
The Nation

 

Meechai

 

BANGKOK: -- CHIEF CHARTER drafter Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) could not confirm that it would be able to finish drafting organic laws by the end of the year.

 

The CDC was given 240 days after the charter promulgation to work on 10 organic laws, four of which are necessary for a general election.

 

The promulgation was first expected in February, but was postponed to accommodate amendments recommended by His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn. 

 

The government has a deadline of February 18 to re-submit the amended draft for royal endorsement. The constitution stipulates that the endorsement take place within 90 days.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30305980

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-09

[waldroj]

Expect to see Prayut on the TV tonight lambasting the media yet again. This time, for having misquoted Wissanu.

 

The spin will probably be that Wisdanu actually told them he "...had an infection in one ear..." !!!

 

 

 

[dcsw53]

So glad that is out of the way and we have a date set.

 

Now can we can down to the serious business of opening a book on when the next postponement will be announced ?

 

March 10 / 1, April 8 / 1..........

[AGareth2]

next year

always next year

[Artisi]

So soon, how will the country ever get ready with such short notice?

[colinneil]

Deputy PM says elections will be held in 1 year  

[taichiplanet]

when is now? Or should that be now is when? I am so confused!

[Phuketboy]

Will not happen, the guy is a joke.  Nobody wants him, the Thai's don't want him and yet he continues to stay.  Every year it's the same story, just more verbal diarrhea.   

[chainarong]

The referendum last year had a big turn out , none the less, it's good to C that the nation is on it's way with the road map to Democracy , just one slight problem , the Military in a Democracy has no input whatsoever in any political matter, so much so that in OZ if you are in the Military reserve and you win an elected seat in parliament you are immediately dismissed from the service. ..........................................................

[mamborobert]

With an 85% reduction in Treasury reserves there is a better chance of another coup than an election.

 

Now that the First division players have played the season for a few years and take the majority of the display trophies, aspiring players in the Second division will want to make a move or else the only trophies left will be Tupperware and Kinder suprises.

[edwinchester]

Election in 2015.....guaranteed

Election in 2016.....guaranteed

Election in 2017.....guaranteed

Election in 2018.....why would I lie?

[KhunBN]

This is absolutely absurd. How can he constantly postpone elections just because he wants to...is there anyone who has the capabilities to stop this or anyway for someone to oppose this (legally)?

 

Plain ridiculous...

Edited February 9, 2017 by KhunBN

[AGareth2]

27 minutes ago, KhunBN said:

This is absolutely absurd. How can he constantly postpone elections just because he wants to...is there anyone who has the capabilities to stop this or anyway for someone to oppose this (legally)?

 

Plain ridiculous...

No

[scotchonrocks]

4 hours ago, candide said:

It reminds me of an old serie....

In relation to election promises, I'm thinking more.....

[KhunBN]

15 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

No

 

You just affirmed the fact that it is ridiculous.

[greenchair]

It's going to be fun to watch the next "elected government " , whoever it is , wade through the minefield to get some independence. Really the Thais should let the Democrats deal with the new system first. That would be an appropriate vengeance. 

???

[Lupatria]

Meechai probably won't go to the ballots before his dentist is fit in photoshop.

[Stray]

If the OP photo is anything to go by; how can he get an election day correct when he doesn't know which finger to flip to media photographers?

[kannot]

best thing they could do is NOT vote for ANY of the people put  forward

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, tx22cb said:

Previous announcements on election dates by the PM himself over the past 2 years have proved to be wrong, so why should we believe a mere Deputy PM?

Read Meechai's comment below it seems to contradict the date of the election. They ran out of lipstick. 

[trainman34014]

One year from today....Er, um, i mean one year from now being a Wednesday in February some time post 2025 !

[DM07]

...but of course!

Oh...I think, I just saw a pig fly by my window and I got news of hell freezing over, as we speak!

[mcfish]

Hope he delays it another 5 years. He is cleaning things up especially around my area... Not sayingy a military government is perfect but a thousand times better than the last 20 years of corrupt democratically elected government THAT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! except steal of course

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk

[bkkgriz]

555, Yeah, not going to happen. I'm going to go along with Mamborobert. There will be another coup before an election. Maybe the police will get tired of being told what to do by the army. It has been a few years since the last coup. C'mon Thailand, you are blowing your average.

[Artisi]

5 hours ago, KhunBN said:

This is absolutely absurd. How can he constantly postpone elections just because he wants to...is there anyone who has the capabilities to stop this or anyway for someone to oppose this (legally)?

 

Plain ridiculous...

probably --  but shhhhh.