A total of 27 political parties, large and small, on Friday signed a 10-point agreement initiated by academics and NGOs to ensure a free and fair general election.
The agreement was initiated by the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (P-Net), a non-governmental organisation focusing on strengthening democracy and electoral processes, and the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) of Mahidol University.
The signing was witnessed by representatives from media outlets, diplomats from foreign embassies and Jarungvith Phumma, secretary-general of the Election Commission (EC).
Though they accepted the invitation, the Chart Pattana and Palang Pracharath parties did not send anyone to the signing ceremony; however, other parties including the Democrats, Pheu Thai, Thai Raksa Chart and Bhumjaithai did.
IHRP director, Eakpant Pindavanija, said yesterday the agreement was part of attempts to strengthen the democratic process and promote free and fair elections.
He said all political parties were being urged to sign the pact in order to be part of democratic development and they had until Jan 10 to get involved.
Mr Jarungvith said the agreement was close to a social contract in which political parties pledged to keep the polls, tentatively scheduled for Feb 24 next year, fraud free.
The agreement, which had 10 points -- five for before the election and the rest for after, was read out by Prachachat Party leader Wan Muhamad Nor Matha.
Signatories pledged to comply with the constitution, election laws, EC campaign regulations and political etiquette when contesting the election.
They vowed not to buy votes or exploit state resources and mechanisms to gain the upper hand over others in the polls. They would also not resort to violence or hate speech in their election campaigns.
After the election, the political parties said they will support a coalition government and, if they become coalition partners, they will also integrate their policies before allocating cabinet seats.
Political parties would also support a greater distribution of power to community organisations and local administrative bodies and pursue peace talks in the deep South under the constitution's framework.