Thai elections unlikely amid violent protests
Thailand’s Election Commission said on May 15 that it is “highly unlikely” that the country will be able to hold July 20 elections due to political unrest that has disrupted necessary preparations. The turmoil was highlighted by protesters who forced the acting premier to flee a key poll-planning meeting and overnight violence that left three dead.
Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan was meeting with the Election Commission at an air force academy outside Bangkok to discuss whether the controversial polls could be held July 20 or have to be delayed due to the political conflict. He had chosen the location for security reasons to avoid protesters in the capital who are opposed to the election and are calling for an unelected, appointed prime minister.
About 100 protesters who had driven in motorcades from central Bangkok entered the compound through a side entrance, blowing whistles and waving Thai flags. Riot police stationed outside apparently allowed them to enter, followed by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
Niwattumrong and several Cabinet ministers at the meeting were notified by security officers that protesters were approaching and hastily ended the meeting, got into their cars and were driven away.
“The government side agreed that we should leave for our own safety,” said Lt. Gen. Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a senior government official who attended the meeting. “The protesters wanted to get in, so we had to leave in our vehicles immediately.”
He said the government has suggested that future meetings be held by teleconference.
After the commotion ended, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn cast doubt on the likelihood of an election taking place July 20 — a date the commission had selected but still requires a royal endorsement to become official.
“It looks like it will be impossible for the general election to take place on July 20,” he said in a telephone interview. According to a strict timetable, the decree must be issued by May 22 for the election to occur on July 20.
But a number of issues need to be sorted out between the government and Election Commission before the royal decree is issued, said Somchai, who is known to support the protesters. “Looking at this timeframe, it is highly unlikely that it will happen in time.”
If the July date doesn’t work out, it could be delayed by a few weeks or longer, said the commission’s secretary-general, Puchong Nutrawong.
Thailand’s long-running political crisis deepened last week when the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for nepotism along with nine Cabinet members in a case that many viewed as politically motivated. Protesters say Yingluck’s removal is not enough, though. She was simply replaced by Niwattumrong, who was a deputy premier from the ruling party.
The protesters are pushing the Senate and the nation’s courts to intervene in the crisis to install a “neutral” prime minister, but the government says that is a threat to the nation’s democratic system and would be tantamount to a judicial coup.
Thailand's Election Commission said on May 15 that it is "highly unlikely" that the country will be able to hold July 20 elections due to political unrest that has disrupted necessary preparations. The turmoil was highlighted by protesters who forced the acting premier to flee a key poll-planning meeting and overnight violence that left three dead. Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan was meeting with the Election Commission at an air force academy outside Bangkok to discuss whether the controversial polls could be held July 20 or have to be delayed due to the political conflict. He had chosen the location...
Thailand’s Election Commission said on May 15 that it is “highly unlikely” that the country will be able to hold July 20 elections due to political unrest that has disrupted necessary preparations. The turmoil was highlighted by protesters who forced the acting premier to flee a key poll-planning meeting and overnight violence that left three dead.
Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan was meeting with the Election Commission at an air force academy outside Bangkok to discuss whether the controversial polls could be held July 20 or have to be delayed due to the political conflict. He had chosen the location for security reasons to avoid protesters in the capital who are opposed to the election and are calling for an unelected, appointed prime minister.
About 100 protesters who had driven in motorcades from central Bangkok entered the compound through a side entrance, blowing whistles and waving Thai flags. Riot police stationed outside apparently allowed them to enter, followed by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
Niwattumrong and several Cabinet ministers at the meeting were notified by security officers that protesters were approaching and hastily ended the meeting, got into their cars and were driven away.
“The government side agreed that we should leave for our own safety,” said Lt. Gen. Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a senior government official who attended the meeting. “The protesters wanted to get in, so we had to leave in our vehicles immediately.”
He said the government has suggested that future meetings be held by teleconference.
After the commotion ended, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn cast doubt on the likelihood of an election taking place July 20 — a date the commission had selected but still requires a royal endorsement to become official.
“It looks like it will be impossible for the general election to take place on July 20,” he said in a telephone interview. According to a strict timetable, the decree must be issued by May 22 for the election to occur on July 20.
But a number of issues need to be sorted out between the government and Election Commission before the royal decree is issued, said Somchai, who is known to support the protesters. “Looking at this timeframe, it is highly unlikely that it will happen in time.”
If the July date doesn’t work out, it could be delayed by a few weeks or longer, said the commission’s secretary-general, Puchong Nutrawong.
Thailand’s long-running political crisis deepened last week when the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for nepotism along with nine Cabinet members in a case that many viewed as politically motivated. Protesters say Yingluck’s removal is not enough, though. She was simply replaced by Niwattumrong, who was a deputy premier from the ruling party.
The protesters are pushing the Senate and the nation’s courts to intervene in the crisis to install a “neutral” prime minister, but the government says that is a threat to the nation’s democratic system and would be tantamount to a judicial coup.
