The court injunction on Friday was based on two lawsuits filed against the Election Commission, one of which alleged that the law protecting voters' secrecy had been violated

by the incorrect layout of polling booths.

The other alleged that the EC had failed to conduct the election in a fair and honest manner.

The judiciary's move followed HM the King's speech on Tuesday in which he called on the country's top judges at the Supreme Court, Administrative Court and Constitutional Court to work together to steer the country out of the "mess" following the April 2 election.

As many as 10 other election-related lawsuits are pending before the Central and Supreme Administrative Courts and the Constitutional Court.

Together the courts will probably take some time to untangle the legal issues and come up with a final ruling on the legitimacy of the April 2 and subsequent polls.

The first round of voting on April 2 yielded 360 MPs, representing nearly all regions of the country except the South.

The second round of voting on April 23 resulted in the election of another 26 MPs.

The EC had hoped to get the remaining 14 MPs in the third round of voting, scheduled for yesterday, which would have allowed the Thai Rak Thai Party to move to open the new House.

It will be a big embarrassment to the EC if the courts declare these elections null and void and will require its chairman, Pol General Vasana Puermlap, to resign as a show of responsibility.

The EC will then be left with only three commissioners to organise a fresh round of elections.

Constitutional expert Kanin Boonsuwan believes that the next election should be put off for 90

days.

This delay will ensure that May and June, when there will be grand state and royal celebrations to mark HM the King's 60th year on the throne, are free of political tension. Kings, queens and royal representatives from 27 countries have confirmed they will attend the celebrations during this period.

Politically, the postponement will also effectively remove the 90-day lock on all MP candidates, who are currently required to be members of the party they are representing for at least 90 days before an election.

In other words, the 90-day postponement will clear the political slate since dissidents within the Thai Rak Thai, Democrat or any other party will be able to switch camp or set up new parties and stand for them.

There will also be sufficient time to prepare for a fair and honest poll. Kanin also urged leaders of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy to form a new political party and compete for votes so that there should be no more street politics.

Once the country has ushered in a proper Parliament in a relatively stable political atmosphere, the process of constitutional reforms should kick off.

Essentially the amendments should focus on strengthening the mechanism of checks and balances on executive power, especially with regard to the appointment of members of independent bodies such as the EC, National Counter Corruption Commission and Constitutional Court.

Over the past five years there has been criticism that the choice of these appointees was manipulated by using the government's huge majority in Parliament.

There should also be public debates on whether to do away with the current 90-day lock on MP candidates and the requirement that they have at least a bachelor's degree.

 Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

 nop1122@yahoo.com