October 22 proposed as new General Election date

BANGKOK, May 15 (TNA) - Thailand's Election Commission and 20 political parties, including the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, on Monday proposed that the new general election should be held on October 22, after the Constitution Court nullified the April 2 snap general elections on grounds that it violated the Constitution.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Election Commissioner Prinya Nakchadtree said the majority agreed that October 22 was appropriate and the EC would submit the proposal to the Cabinet on Tuesday.

The proposal won approval from representatives of 13 parties but the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party's representative abstained.

The TRT representative sought early poll date, arguing that the poll, if delayed, will cause major problems in administration, particularly, the government's draft budget bill for Fiscal Year 2007 which has yet to go under parliamentary scrutiny.

However, Prinya conceded that the new poll date has yet to be finalised as it is subject to Cabinet approval.

The date would also give aspiring candidates sufficient time to prepare for the polls or switch parties as they desire because the law states that any candidate must be a member of a political party for at least 90 days before election day.

Commissioner Prinya earlier proposed that the new poll should be scheduled after completion of the grand celebrations in June to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne and the new date for the next general election should allow time for MPs to switch
parties if they wished.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called the April 2 snap elections three years ahead of schedule amid mass street rallies in the capital demanding his resignation.

However, the boycott of the three main opposition parties forced a second round of voting that failed to produce a complete 500 MP Lower House to convene.

Parliament is required by law to convene within 30 days after the poll to name the new prime minister.

TNA
May 15, 2006