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Election could be held between February and May: Wissanu


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Election could be held between February and May: Wissanu

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION 

 

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FEBRUARY 24 will be earliest date when the next general election can be held and full resumption of political activities will be allowed no earlier than 150 days before the vote, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday after meeting with the new Election Commission (EC) members.

 

The election date could be any Sunday between February 24 and May 5, Wissanu said. His discussions with the new election commissioners lasted about 90 minutes. The schedule is in line with the time frame set in the current Constitution, which came into effect in April last year.

 

“We talked about 10 issues. I briefed them about all matters that have been going on – nothing that everyone didn’t already know, though,” he said. “And we talked about the election date and how to lift the political ban.”

 

Wissanu’s remarks came after the new EC announced the possible election date during the past weekend, a couple of days after they took office. The schedule, however, followed the road map to democracy announced in June when the junta held a meeting with political parties.

 

The ban has been a major concern among politicians. With the election fast approaching, the junta has yet to revoke the political restrictions in place since the coup in May 2014. This makes it inconvenient for political parties to make preparations for the first general election in about five years that also may see many changes due to new legislation.

 

Wissanu, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said that when the last two organic laws are promulgated next month, the political ban will be partially lifted and political parties will have some freedom. They would at least be able to hold a general assembly to select new party executives, for example, he explained.

 

The ban would be fully lifted after the organic laws are effective – 90 days after the promulgation and 150 days before the election, he said.

 

So, during the 150 days, political parties can enjoy freedom and have time for election campaigning, Wissanu explained.

 

While declining to specify the determining factors for the exact election date, Wissanu said political parties would be unaffected.

 

They would have enough time for campaigning, and there was no reason for them to be concerned, he said.

 

“Say, if the ban is lifted on the first day of the 150 days and the election takes place on the last day, it means they have plenty of time,” the deputy PM said. “Normally, they only have around a month for election campaigning.”

 

Regarding the EC issue on appointing provincial electoral inspectors, Wissanu said yesterday that the new EC members would take the baton from their predecessors and endorse the inspectors selected while the outgoing EC members were still in office, unless certain nominations are opposed by the involved agency or members of the public, he said.

 

Regarding a controversy after some legislators suggested that the outgoing EC members should have left the selection of inspectors to their successors, Wissanu said he had talked to the new commissioners and they agreed that the selection fit well with the time frame.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30352583

 
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-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-21
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51 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Say, if the ban is lifted on the first day of the 150 days and the election takes place on the last day, it means they have plenty of time,” the deputy PM said. “Normally, they only have around a month for election campaigning.”

 

Did he really just say that !! 

 

Say the ban is lifted on the 1st day of the 150 days and the election takes place on the 10th ?? Oooops...

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"...“Say, if the ban is lifted on the first day of the 150 days and the election takes place on the last day, it means they have plenty of time,” the deputy PM said. “Normally, they only have around a month for election campaigning...”

 

Aha!

 

Here is one of the ways that they intend to cheat; "partially" lift the political ban to "allow" campaigning while in reality limit greatly the ability of the parties to campaign freely. Then, only lift the total ban at the very last minute and then claim it was free and fair.

 

Weasels!

 

More and more I have the opinion that the parties should not agree to an election until there are clear rules, known and published in advance, which also include a time table for all things.

 

The worst possible outcome is an "election" which is not free and fair (enough) and that the Junta uses to claim legitimacy; better no election that an unfair and un-free one.

 

 

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Wissanu suggests restrictions on political activities to be eased in September

 

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Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam today reiterated the time frame set for the general elections, which is between February 24 and May 5 next year, and suggested that political restrictions will be soon eased to allow political parties to carry out political activities.

 

After an informal meeting with the newly-appointed members of the Election Commission, Mr Wissanu said one issue discussed was about amending  the order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) which restricts political activities.

 

He said that the restrictions would be eased during the 90-day period after the bills on MP election and senator selection are published in the Royal Gazette. Once the restriction is lifted, political parties will be allowed to carry out six categories of political activities without needing prior approval from the NCPO.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/wissanu-suggests-restrictions-on-political-activities-to-be-eased-in-september/

 
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-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-08-21
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2 hours ago, webfact said:

We talked about 10 issues. I briefed them about all matters that have been going on – nothing that everyone didn’t already know, though,” he said. “And we talked about the election date and how to lift the political ban.”

So you spent most of the time talking to the Election Commission about things that had nothing to do with the election. ?

 

Also, pray tell, what were these "10 things"? If everyone alreadt knew about them, what was the point of wasting time talking about them? ?

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Just now, SABloke said:

A lot of 'ifs', 'coulds', and 'woulds' sprouted by this Deputy Dunce...he should find a job teaching the 2nd Conditional. 

Sadly I fear he'll soon be using the Third Conditional

' If we had persuaded enough ex-MPs to switch sides to us , we would have had the election in May.'

 

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None of this means anything as long as 44 is still available. The EC has the final say over when the election will take place - but they don't. As long as 44 is on the table no one has any final say other than the men with the tanks and guns.

 

It would seem the junta are just making things up as they go along. Which is typical. 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

None of this means anything as long as 44 is still available. The EC has the final say over when the election will take place - but they don't. As long as 44 is on the table no one has any final say other than the men with the tanks and guns.

 

It would seem the junta are just making things up as they go along. Which is typical.

I like your use of 'would seem' to give the benefit of the doubt.

 

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2 hours ago, SABloke said:

A lot of 'ifs', 'coulds', and 'woulds' sprouted by this Deputy Dunce...he should find a job teaching the 2nd Conditional. 

He learned this from the guys who constantly tell the people:

The flood situation 'could' improve when it stops raining.

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6 hours ago, webfact said:

The schedule is in line with the time frame set in the current Constitution

Mustn't violate the Constitution says the DPM for Legal Affairs for the military junta government!

Prayut should replace Wissanu with Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal aka Big Joke.

At least people wouldn't have to suffer the duplicity every time the DPM spoke.

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2 hours ago, rkidlad said:

None of this means anything as long as 44 is still available. The EC has the final say over when the election will take place - but they don't. As long as 44 is on the table no one has any final say other than the men with the tanks and guns.

 

It would seem the junta are just making things up as they go along. Which is typical. 

 

 

Yes. You've said it. The junta can and will do whatever they want. Remember that, even in the event of an 'election', they are still the 'government' until a new 'government' is sworn into office.

 

Ominous ...

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4 hours ago, brucec64 said:

Just one small task beforehand. Find a reason to disband the PTP and it will be clear sailing for Prayut and his band of crooks.

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

they will drop that bombshell the day before and cause mayhem and cancel the election.

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7 hours ago, rkidlad said:

None of this means anything as long as 44 is still available. The EC has the final say over when the election will take place - but they don't. As long as 44 is on the table no one has any final say other than the men with the tanks and guns.

 

It would seem the junta are just making things up as they go along. Which is typical. 

 

 

It's not men, it's one man alone who created article 44 and only he has the power to use it.  It's his personal magic wand.

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