October 15 elections allow for 90-day party ruling
The Cabinet yesterday resolved to hold the next general elections on October 15 - the date suggested by the Election Commission (EC) following its recent meeting with representatives of political parties.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam disclosed the Cabinet decision and added the time frame should be favourable for incumbent and former MPs who want to change parties. The Cabinet Secretariat, at the order of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, yesterday issued a three-page statement clearly outlining the exact time frame and dates involving the minimum 90-day period required for election candidates to change parties. The document also explained why the general election should be held on October 15. The statement suggested that defectors would have to change parties before June 8 in order to allow them at least 90 days to become members of a new party. "This is aimed at ensuring fairness to all the parties involved," it concluded. When it called the April 2 snap election, the government was accused of providing insufficient time for other political parties. The outcry led to a boycott by the three opposition parties. A candidate is required by law to be a member of a political party for at least 90 days to represent that party in an election. Those who want to change their party allegiance can do so until June 8, Wissanu said, 90 days before the registration of constituency election candidates that begins on September 8. The Cabinet will then notify the EC about its decision on the election date, said Wissanu. He said the Cabinet also agreed yesterday to issue a royal decree on August 24 to call the new election. Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said yesterday that according to the EC's proposed schedule, the registration of candidates for the party-list system will take place between September 5 and 7, and the registration of constituency candidates will be held from September 8 to 12. Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa, who on Monday called on the government to set the election date as soon as possible, yesterday welcomed the Cabinet resolution, saying it would help clear any uncertainties about the election date as far as the 90-day rule was concerned. However, Banharn said he did not think the generous time frame would lead to mass defection of MPs from other parties to Chat Thai.
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