EC member backs local elections before national ballot
By The Nation

 

Spmchai

 

BANGKOK: -- Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said on Thursday he agreed with the idea of local elections being held before the national polling, but added that smaller elections would have to be staggered so that effective legal enforcement and thorough regulation could be ensured.

 

The commissioner was responding to an idea that has been discussed in the media.

 

However, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said it was not yet time to hold elections.

 

The government currently imposes a ban on local elections, so elected officials in office before the coup are often still working past their original terms. 

 

The situation could give them a political advantage in the next elections as they could distribute favours at the expense of the integrity of their current offices, Somchai said.

 

Somchai added that electoral fraud was most rampant in local elections, with Bt1,000 to Bt5,000 spent to buy each vote.

 

The EC is now working on a local election law in line with the new constitution, which is intended to close past loopholes, he said, adding that the EC was ready if the government wanted to hold elections.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310805

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-30

Two big advantages from the Junta's point of view:

- they will be organised by the Junta and not by the next (possibly) elected government

-it will allow to further postpone elections.

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Somchai added that electoral fraud was most rampant in local elections, with Bt1,000 to Bt5,000 spent to buy each vote.

Sounds like Thailand 4.0

No doubt the EC members will have to go on a study tour/fact finding mission to observe local election in Europe. Italy and France are nice in Spring and early Summer, perhaps Denmark and Bavaria as well.