Political party registration starts today

BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) – Political groups applied to form political parties on the first day of the registration at the Election Commission (EC) office today. It is the first political party registration since 2014. About 21 political groups actively arrived before 7.30am, Palang Chartthai, led by Maj-General Songklod Thipparat is the first political party, applying to establish a party. As of Friday morning, 30 political parties have submitted the party names and logos to the EC. Election Commission (EC) chairman, Supachai Somcharoen said after the applications, the EC will check submitted document and this process may involve cooperation from other agencies such as the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthhiyakorn said that the registration of the parties’ names and logos has no timeframe but those parties, who wish to contest in the next election, expected to be held in February 2019, should finished it within this month. There are more processes to complete the registration. One of the requirements is that the political groups must find 500 members to form the party. (TNA)