Pheu Thai urges clear reform agenda

Pheu Thai urges clear reform agenda

Pheu Thai has asked all parties to come up with clear reform plans and use them in their campaigns in the next election so voters can decide.

The party also urged all sides to avert violence through the election, Pheu Thai strategist Pokin Polakul said after the party's meeting on Monday.

Pheu Thai said while it agreed with the EC's proposal to hold an election on July 20, it would like to see the date pushed forward and a royal decree to that effect passed as soon as possible.

This is to set a clear, peaceful and internationally accepted direction of settling ideological differences and to minimise violence.

Pheu Thai asked all parties to field candidates and come up with concrete reform plans, both in terms of process and content, so voters are well informed before they cast the ballots.

In the meantime, the party will talk with all sides to identify the points that all agree on so they can be implemented first.

The differences will be grouped and later brought to a referendum process, the former parliament president said.

"We also urge all parties, people and officials, regardless of their political preferences, to be part of the election process. Let's make it peaceful and let's respect all sides by not obstructing the candidate registration, campaigns, vote-counting and other procedures," he said.

"The further the election is delayed, the more damage is done to the country," he said.

Mr Pokin cited as an example the delayed enactment of the 2015 expenditure budget act, which is to begin on Oct 1 this year.

Mr Pokin, a former Supreme Administrative Court vice-president, also pleaded with independent organisations to be impartial and just in both the process and content.

Despite the conflicts, Thailand has a better chance than some countries in resuming sustainable development.

"We must be the centre of transport, tourism, trade and services of Asean and the link of Arab countries, China, Asean and India. If only we are sensible, reasonable, compassionate and understanding," he said.

Asked whether Pheu Thai believes the Democrat Party would run in the next election, Mr Pokin said judging from its leader's determination in the past few days, the Democrat Party would definitely join the election.

"Since he has made clear the election is the country's solution, we can join hands and take it from there as it is the point we both agree on. We'll have other processes to sort out our differences," Mr Pokin said.

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