The Election Commission (EC) resolved on Tuesday the election in the 28 constituencies with no candidates can happen on April 20 or 27 if the government agrees to issue another royal decree for it.
People who were blocked from exercising their right to vote on Feb 2 set up a bogus polling unit in Phaya Thai district. The Election Commission could hold poll re-runs on April 20 or 27. (Photo by Pornprom Sarttarbhaya)
In another move, the EC decided yesterday to hold an election on April 20 for the advance election that did not occur in 83 constituencies on Jan 26. It said elections could also be held on April 27 at the 10,284 polling stations where voting was abandoned on Feb 2.
But the 28 constituencies which had no candidates needed a new royal decree issued by the government, said commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.
Supachai Somcharoen, EC chairman, insisted on Tuesday the government had to issue another royal decree for the election in the 28 constituencies where the Feb 2 election did not happen because there is no candidate.
If the government disagrees with the EC’s proposal, the EC will seek a ruling from the Constitution Court, he said.
The EC chairman said all the five members of his commission tried to propose legal solutions to avoid the nullification of the Feb 2 election and prevent the waste of time and money already spent on the poll.
"The five election commissioners have tried to look for solutions in all areas and all angles. We must find a way to make everything right,'' he said.
"The EC will solve the issue as soon as possible because the senatorial election is coming up,” Mr Supachai said.
"For the 28 constituencies where there is not a candidate, there must be another royal decree and there will be two days of elections anyway because the Feb 2 election has already passed.
"If there is to be polling in the 28 constituencies, another election date must be set. So it is impossible the election can be held on the same day. Laws should be interpreted in a way that ensures national progress and peace. I want all parties to solve problems jointly so peace will be restored and the economy will recover,” the EC chairman said.
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said the EC had to re-run the Feb 2 election. No precedent exists for a new royal decree being issued for a general election, he said.
"I do not ask anything from the EC but I believe Thai society wants the EC to do its duty in relation to organising the election, and this clearly complies with the constitution," Mr Pongthep said.
He also said the EC was required to organise an election so there would be at least 475 MPs that would form a quorum for the opening of the House within 30 days of the Feb 2 poll. Previous election commissions had successfully organised elections of all 500 MPs in time for the House opening.
Mr Pongthep denied former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had ordered the caretaker government to complete the Feb 2 election.
The Constitution Court will decide on Wednesday whether it will accept for consideration a request for the nullification of the Feb 2 election. The request came from former Democrat MP for Songkhla Wirat Kalayasiri. He asked the court to nullify the election because the caretaker government pushed for the poll while ignoring conflicts concerning the election. He said he believes this amounts to an unconstitutional bid to acquire power.
The Democrat also asked the court to disband the ruling Pheu Thai Party and suspend the political rights of its executives for five years.
He said the government imposed the emergency decree during the poll, which made the election unfair.