Thailand's new general election expected in mid-Jan 2014

BANGKOK, December 9 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) says that the country's new general election is expected in mid January 2014 at the earliest. Prapun Naigowit, an election commissioner, told journalists of the expectation on Monday afternoon, after a special meeting of all five election commissioners in Bangkok to discuss Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s announcement of the House dissolution earlier in the day. Prapun said that the House dissolution has caused the cancellation of earlier planned by-elections in eight constituencies in six provinces due to recent resignations of Democrat MPs. According to the election commissioner, the EC is to wait for a royal decree which will set the date for the new general election, as the Constitution stipulates that the organization of a general election must wait for at least 45 days but within 60 days after a House dissolution. The election commissioner acknowledged that after the House dissolution, the government will play caretaker roles and do only necessary duties in accordance with Section 181 of the Constitution, but the caretaker government is unable to appoint or transfer government officials, spend an emergency budget without the consent of the EC, use government personnel to assist in vote campaigns or sign a document to commit long-term projects, like the 2.2-trillion-baht infrastructure development plans. The election commissioner noted that the Thai Senate, in the meantime, remains active and can function on behalf of the House of Representatives in some cases, including a war declaration. EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond told reporters, meanwhile, that the present EC is ready to organize the new general election although its term has already expired, as the electoral law requires it to continue with its work until the new EC is officially appointed in a royal command. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party announced that it will convene its executive board in a few days to discuss vote campaign strategies.(TNA)