Court to rule on validity of Thailand's Feb 2 election March 21

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) - Bangkok's Constitution Court says that it will rule on a case concerning the validity of Thailand's February 2 general election on March 21, 2014. After the Constitution Court listened to representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) and the caretaker government for nearly two hours on Wednesday morning, Constitutional Court judge Jarun Pukditanakul told a press conference that the court will announce its ruling at 11am on March 21. In the hearing, Ombudsman Pornpet Wichitcholchai, who is the complainant of the case, said that the February 2 general election should be invalid because the EC could organize the national poll in 347 constituencies but failing to do so in 28 other constituencies and it is unlikely that the general election can be completed within 180 days as required by the Constitution, given the ongoing domestic political strife. Pornpet cautioned if attempts to complete the general election proceed, Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) and state budgets may be greatly affected and domestic political protests may be continued. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana told the court that the Ombudsman had no authority to file the complaint with the court and the general election could not happen nationwide on one day due to blockages by anti government protesters. EC Chairman Supachai Somcharoen told the Constitutional Court that the EC had authority to organize the general election, but security authorities failed to maintain order; so, the EC had to set election reruns. The EC chairman suggested that the Constitution Court's Friday ruling should oblige all concerned parties and should lead to a way out. (TNA)