The general election will take place somewhere between February and May next year and primary vote rules may be changed to accommodate a tight schedule.
Seventy-four parties and groups sent 199 members to attend a meeting hosted by the government at the Army Club in Bangkok to discuss the general election on Monday.
The three-hour meeting discussed the upcoming poll and the obstacles faced by parties as a result of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ban on their activities.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said after the meeting the roadmap from now to the polls could be divided into three phases of three months, three months and five months, respectively -- the so-called 3-3-5 roadmap. (continued below)
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon (centre) chairs the meeting. He is flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (left) and Election Commission president Supachai Somcharoen. (Photo by Weerawong Wongpreedee)
According to Mr Wissanu, the first phase of 90 days is from mid-June to mid-September, during which His Majesty the King considers signing the organic laws on MPs and senators. There would be no “unlocking” of political activities during this period, he said.
The second 90-day phase is from mid-September to mid-December. This is a silent period to wait for the MP law to take effect after it is published in the Royal Gazette. The ban on political activities will likely be lifted at this stage.
The activities politicians can do during this period are limited to holding general meetings, drafting regulations, recruiting party members, giving opinions to the EC on constituency boundaries and setting up party branches, said Mr Wissanu.
The third phase of 150 days is from mid-December to mid-May, when the election will take place.
On setting the election date, Mr Wissanu said the Election Commission (EC) generally set the date on the fourth Sunday of a month so it could be Feb 24, March 31, April 28, depending on the EC.
“If everything takes less time than allowed, the prime minister’s estimate of a February election is possible,” he said.
He added everything would be clearer at the next meeting between the government and political parties to be held after His Majesty signed the laws. “The prime minister will chair that meeting.”
Jurin Laksanavisit, a deputy leader of the Democrat Party, said after the meeting he was satisfied with the outcomes. “We now know when the ban will be lifted.”
Varawut Silpa-archa, a core member of Chartthaipattana party, said he was also happy with the meeting.
Government representatives said the election remains set in February but it could be sooner if the MP and senator laws are signed by His Majesty sooner than 90 days, in which case the polls can be held as soon as December this year or January next year.”
He added Chartthaipattana was ready for the election in any case.
Primary votes take back seat
Most of the participating parties at the meeting proposed that the NCPO use a Section 44 order to scrap the requirement for primary votes for the upcoming election but a decision has not been made.
The NCPO also floated the idea of exempting the rule requiring a branch chief in an MP screening panel of a party since parties cannot set up branches.
Another proposal is to make primary votes regional.
“A party can have four regional branches, each of which comprises members from all provinces in its respective region. It can then hold primary votes for all MP candidates of all provinces in the region,” said Mr Wissanu.
“Earlier, parties were required to have an MP screening panel for each of the 350 constituencies,” he added.
Chartthaipattana director Nikorn Chamnong said regional primary votes sounds like a good idea.
First meeting
Of all 69 parties existing before the 2014 coup, 45 sent 124 members to attend Monday’s meeting. They included the Democrats, Chartthaipattana, Bhumjaithai, Chartpattana, and Phalangchon.
Three of all 69 old parties, notably Pheu Thai, turned down the invitations while 22 could not be reached.
Of all 10 groups having applied to set up parties, nine sent 27 members to join the talk.
Of all 74 groups in the process of forming parties, 20 sent 48 members to attend.
The government side was led by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who presided over the meeting, and Mr Wissanu. Election Commission president Supachai Somcharoen and secretary Pol Col Charungwit Poomma.
Other members from the government side are from the Constitution Drafting Committee, the Council of State and the NCPO.
All non-government attendees were not allowed to bring in their mobile phones inside the conference room. (continued below)
Officers provide documents and ask attendees to leave cell phones in front of the conference room. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The meeting discussed legal issues and regulations obstructing political activities and politicians will be allowed to express opinions and give suggestions.
Among the key issues faced by parties are the “catch-22” stemming from an NCPO order banning activities of old parties.
A party is supposed to hold a general meeting and recruit members. In order to do so, representatives of a party’s branches must attend but all party branches had been dissolved by the NCPO shortly after the coup so they cannot hold a general meeting, which is needed to decide on how they proceed with primary votes they are constitutionally required to hold.
Varawut Silpa-archa (left), a core member of Chartthaipattana Party and son of former PM Banharn, and Nikorn Chamnong (centre), the party director, at the meeting. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)