Thailand : General Election 1̶9̶ ̶A̶u̶g̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶8̶

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It's official > The Election will be delayed

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said during a trip to India on Friday that he acknowledges the election delay following the passage of an amendment to the MP election bill, but said the matter is not yet finalised and his government will stick to the roadmap to the coming election.

Prayut said the matter is driven by the National Legislative Assembly, which passed the law and he could not over-ride its authority. However, his government has a roadmap and is following what has been declared, Prayut said, without elaborating what that meant.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...ikHHZ1.twitter

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Thai PM calls for a little more time in office to prepare for vote
Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Clarence Fernandez/Mark Heinrich
January 30, 2018

BANGKOK (Reuters)

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Yours is NOT a normal government .

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39 individuals summoned for demanding electionsPro-democracy activist Rangsiman Rome gives a speech during the protest

prachatai.com

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Rule by fear continues .

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February 2019 poll on track, says Wissanu
AEKARACH SATTABURUTH & MONGKOL BANGPRAPA
1 Feb 2018
The general election will be held by February next year unless two related organic draft laws are submitted to the charter court for a ruling, in which case it could be later, says Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

The organic bills govern the election of MPs and selection of senators. Both bills have passed the National Legislative Assembly.

They are the last two of four organic bills essential for holding a general election which have cleared the NLA. The other bills pertain to the political parties and the Election Commission (EC). The bill on the EC is being checked by the Constitutional Court concerning the qualifications of election commissioners.


Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam is the government's legal eagle. He predicts an election in 13 months, but lists reasons why it might have to be delayed again.

Mr Wissanu said Wednesday the roadmap for holding the next poll by February next year remains unchanged. However, the two bills on the election of MPs and the selection of senators will need to be discussed at a joint panel made up of the NLA, EC and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), which wrote the organic bills.

The timing of the joint panel meeting is to be scheduled although a potential problem could lie with legislators sending either or both of the bills to the court for a ruling, he said.

The check would take some time. Mr Wissanu said any interpretation request must be backed up with strong issues that raise doubts about whether the bill complies with the constitution.



The court can spend as long as it is necessary performing the check. "But that is not to say that this will be a reason for prolonging the election roadmap (beyond February)," the deputy premier said. "It's something hypothetical," he added.

Those authorised to forward an organic bill to the court are at least 25 NLA members co-signing such a request, and the prime minister. However, either the CDC or the EC can file a petition as well.

The CDC might disagree with an organic bill as amended by the NLA while the EC might spot potential technical glitches with implementing the bill that might hamper the election.

bangkokpost.com

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nine thousand , nine hundred and ninety nine green bottles ...................

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Thai Govt confident world community will understand election delay

BANGKOK, 4th February 2018 The Thai government is confident the international community will understand the reason behind the postponement of a national election.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Lt Gen Werachon Sukondhapatipak said on Saturday that the government is informing the world community of a possible delay in holding the next election, expressing his confidence that other nations would understand.

He stressed that the prime minister and the National Council for Peace and Order had nothing to do with the postponement, as the National Legislative Assembly acted on its own to defer the enforcement of the Organic Members of Parliament Act by 90 days, hence resulting in a likely delay in the national poll.

Lt Gen Werachon said critics, political groups, activists, and members of the public are entitled to express themselves, but their demonstrations must be done within the confines of the law.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai says no countries have inquired about the possible change in the timing of the election.

thainews.prd.go.th

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In the meantime, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai says no countries have inquired about the possible change in the timing of the election.

EU urges return to democracy
25 Jan 2018

Envoy blasts curbs on media, free speech

"We understand that it is still possible to hold the elections by November 2018 and encourage all stakeholders to respect the previously announced road map for a return to democracy in Thailand, for the benefit of all its people. The EU stands ready to assist Thailand in this endeavour," EU Ambassador to Thailand Pirkka Tapiola said.

bangkokpost.com

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Feb 6, 2018


A child plays next to a cardboard cutout of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha during a Children's Day celebration at Government House in Bangkok on Jan. 13.
REUTERS/JORGE SILVA

BANGKOK

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Junta files more charges against pro-election MBK39Nuttha at the press briefing


Pro-democracy activist Rangsiman Rome gives a speech during the protest during the protest

prachatai.com

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US General Did Not Ask About Election Date - Thai PM
Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa

BANGKOK, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied that a top United States general he met yesterday had asked him about the country's election date.

Instead, he said, the US Joint Chief of Staff Gen Joseph F. Dunsford Jr, in their meeting in his office at the Government House, encouraged Thailand to move forward to the path of democracy.

"He did not ask me (about the election date), but he gave an encouragement for Thailand to move forward to democracy and I told him about our necessity. He understood and he also wished us success," he told the media here Thursday.

Prayut and the Thai government have been under pressure from the public to confirm the election date ever since mentioning that the election will be held in November this year during last year's meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

The Prime Minister had said previously that the election will be held according to the "roadmap" following the promulgation of all organic laws related to the election.....

bernama.com

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Thailand issues arrest warrants against four activists, one caught
February 9, 2018

BANGKOK (Reuters)