October 15 election may be delayed : Thaksin
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that the national election, tentatively set for October 15, could possibly be delayed due to the political crisis facing his party and its rival.
"The election date was set on October 15. But something happened in politics, which may cause us to wait longer," Thaksin said in his weekly radio address, which resumed Saturday following its suspension earlier this year. He did not give further elaboration and did not mention about the latest political crisis facing his Thai Rak Thai Party which could see his ruling Thai Rak Thai party and the main opposition Democrat party disbanded over electoral irregularities. The weekly radio program, called "Prime Minister Thaksin Meets the People" was halted in February when Thaksin dissolved the Parliament to call for snap elections. In late June, prosecutors said they would ask the Constitutional Court to disband both Thaksin's party and the main opposition Democrat party over alleged election law violations in the April 2 snap elections. During Saturday's one-hour show, Thaksin mainly talked about the 60th anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the throne, the economy and his efforts to crack down on drugs. On the economy, Thaksin said soaring oil prices, inflation and rising interest rates were putting pressure on the country's growth rate, which is expected to reach just four per cent this year. The Nation
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