Thailand Politics

It’s Official Thailand’s General Election Will Be Held on Mach 24, 2019

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Election Commission chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong has announced that a election will be held on March 24, just hours after publication of a long-awaited royal decree calling for national polls.

The government also said it believes a new House of Representatives and government should be installed by the middle of the year.

EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said commissioners had met and agreed on March 24 after the royal decree was published in the Royal Gazette.

His Majesty the King signed the decree, which took immediate effect, so the EC could set the date.

The decree, countersigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, required that the EC chairman implement it by Monday, but the EC had no problem taking the bull by the horns and announcing the election date within hours.

The EC is required by law to set the date and required to do so within five days of the royal decree being signed.

The EC was obviously fully prepared for the decree, as it also announced other poll-related schedules.

Jan 28-Feb 19 has been set as the period when people can register for advance voting. Candidates for the election can apply for registration from Feb 4-8. Each political party can also submit a list of up to three prime ministerial candidates during those five days.

Voters in foreign countries will be able to cast their votes from March 4-16. March 17 has been set as the date for voters to cast ballots in advance, regardless of whether they live in their constituencies or elsewhere.

Pro-election campaigners said they would call off planned rallies.

Foreign reaction was slow and mostly muted.

European Union Ambassador to Thailand Pirkka Tapiola wrote on Twitter that important steps have been taken towards restoring democracy in Thailand with the publication of the royal decree and the announcement of the poll date.

“Looking forward to open & peaceful campaign, with level playing field. EU ready to support Thailand as friend and partner!”

With the poll dates now fixed, political parties will have more than 50 days to campaign, Mr Ittiporn said – exactly 58 days in fact from Thursday through the last legal day to campaign on Saturday, March 23.

Asked by reporters whether the EC would try to announce at least 95% of the poll results by May 9, Mr Ittiporn said the organizing agency would take this into account.

He referred to a constitutional provision which requires the EC to “complete” the election within 150 days of the law on the election of MPs taking effect. That happened on Dec 11, putting the deadline as May 9.

Debate is raging over whether the term “complete” refers to when “all ballots are cast” or when “all results are announced”.

If necessary, the EC will discuss whether to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on the matter, Mr Ittiporn said.

By law, the EC is obligated to endorse the results within 60 days of the election.

Based on the new date for the poll, the EC will have less than 60 days to endorse at least 95% of the poll results. Under the constitution, parliament must convene within 15 days of almost all the results being announced.

After Wednesday’s news, the PM’s Office issued a statement about when the new House of Representatives and government should be in place.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, the cabinet’s designated legal authority, said Gen Prayut will have until Feb 8 to decide whether to accept an invitation to become a candidate for prime minister on the ticket of any party.

Mr Wissanu said that even though the royal decree for the election has been issued, the government will continue to work as usual.

There are no legal requirements to forbid the government from approving important projects, though the government will need to prioritise them, Mr Wissanu said.

The military has already said it will submit plans to buy 14 more battle tanks from China in mid-March, an expenditure of 2.3 billion baht.

Mr Wissanu said political parties’ election campaigns would be closely monitored by the EC.

Government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the regime will not serve as an interim government for the next two months but would continue with business as usual.

The government maintains full authority to run the country as stipulated by the constitution, he said.

Thailand Politics

Thai Prime Minister’s Popularity Declines as Move Forward Party dominates

(CTN News) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin continues to make local and international visits to try to solve problems and promote Thailand, but he has failed to impress most voters, according to a Nida poll. The poll also revealed the declining popularity of Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the rise of the Move Forward Party.

According to a poll released on Sunday, only 12.85% of people supported the prime minister, down from 17.75% in the previous survey. The daughter of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin, currently on parole, saw her popularity drop from 6% to 4.85%.

The National Institute of Development Administration conducts a quarterly survey of the public’s preferred political leaders. The last survey was released at the end of March.

According to the survey, supporters of the prime minister described Mr Srettha as a resolute decision-maker determined to address their problems. Ms Paetongtarn was complimented for her vision, leadership, knowledge, and grasp of the country’s difficulties.

This weekend, the prime minister will be in the northeast region listening to citizens’ concerns. The journey occurred only a few days after he had visited northern provinces earlier in the week.

Despite criticism, he has reduced his abroad trips, citing the need to showcase Thailand to investors and traders.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief advisor of the Move Forward Party, remained the top candidate for prime minister with 45.50% of the vote, up slightly from 42.75% in the previous quarter’s poll.

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was the huge winner. The leader of the United Thai National Party saw his popularity nearly quadruple from 3.55% to 6.85%.

The sampled voters stated they appreciated Mr Pita’s political beliefs and thought he had broad knowledge. They praised Mr Pirapan’s credibility, claiming he was clean and honest.

Two other probable prime minister candidates were Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party and Anutin Chanvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai. However, they were less popular than others.

About 20% of voters still did not believe any candidate was qualified to lead the country, which is the same percentage as in the last survey.

Move Forward Party was the most popular party with 49.20%, up slightly from three months ago, while Pheu Thai fell around five percentage points to 16.85% from 22.10%.

The poll, issued on Sunday, surveyed 2,000 ineligible voters between June 14 and June 18.

Thailand Politics

Move Forward Party MP Jirat Thongsuwan Appeals Suspended Jail Sentence for Defamation

(CTN News) – Jirat Thongsuwan, a Move Forward Party MP, says he would appeal his one-year suspended jail sentence for defaming a former senior defense ministry official concerning the state’s procurement of bogus bomb detectors.

The Criminal Court also fined Mr Jirat 100,000 baht for falsely accusing ACM Tharet Punsri, a former Air Force chief-of-staff who later became the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, of being the chairman and shareholder of a company that supplied the military with the infamous GT200 bomb detectors.

The Chachoengsao MP claimed a July 20, 2022, no-confidence vote against cabinet ministers in Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. ACM Tharet was not a cabinet member.

Jirat Thongsuwan also identified ACM Tharet as a key figure in the 2006 coup headed by then-army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, which overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra.

ACM Tharet told the court that Jirat Thongsuwan’s charges were false and harmed his reputation. He denied involvement with the bomb detection company and said he was not the company’s senior chairman or shareholder.

In addition to the suspended jail term and fine, the court ordered Jirat Thongsuwan to pay $ 500,000 baht in damages to ACM Tharet and publish an apology in three newspapers for five days.

Jirat Thongsuwan later announced on his X account that he had challenged the verdict with the hashtag “An injustice is infuriating”.

The MP has also been accused of dodging required military conscription. He admitted to the accusation on May 8.

A British business promoted the GT200 as a “remote substance detector” and sold it in several countries. Between 2004 and 2009, fourteen Thai government organizations, most of which were military, were projected to spend 1.4 billion baht on the units.

Concerns about the GT200 and related gadgets arose after the National Science and Technology Development Agency discovered they lacked electronic components.

The devices were later revealed to be “divining rods”.

Thailand Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Files 100 Million Baht Defamation Lawsuit Against Warong Dechgitvigrom

(CTN News) – Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, has launched a defamation action against Warong Dechgitvigrom, the head of the Thai Pakdee Party, accusing him of paying a bribe to be released on bail in a lese majeste case.

Thaksin’s attorney, Winyat Chartmontree, filed a lawsuit against Warong, seeking 100 million baht in damages.

Warong, a long-time Thaksin Shinawatra critic, gave a public statement and posted on social media, saying that 2 billion baht was paid to judicial officials in exchange for release on bail in the lese majeste case.

Thaksin Shinawatra Granted Release on 500,000 Baht Bond

Thaksin was granted release on a 500,000 baht bond last week and told not to leave the country without court authorization after pleading innocent to charges of defaming King Rama IX in a 2015 interview with South Korean media.

Winyat stated that, while Warong did not identify Thaksin Shinawatra by name in his speech or post, he did include a hashtag with Thaksin’s name as well as the date Thaksin must appear in court, allowing readers to connect Thaksin to the allegations.

Winyat further stated that he was investigating the fact that Warong mentioned the specific aircraft and automobiles utilized by Thaksin Shinawatra to violate the Personal Data Protection Act.

“I have requested Mr Warong to provide proof as to where he received the data. “If it turns out that it came from state officials, there will be legal consequences,” he warned.

The Criminal Court has scheduled the case’s preliminary hearing for September 30.