Prayut barred from canvassing for votes

Prayut barred from canvassing for votes

EC decides on PM's pre-poll conduct

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wasn't campaigning when he went to Bangkok's Bang Khae district. He was seeking the solution to traffic problems. (Post Today photo)
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wasn't campaigning when he went to Bangkok's Bang Khae district. He was seeking the solution to traffic problems. (Post Today photo)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is not permitted by law to help the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) to canvass for votes, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Mr Wissanu said the matter was decided at a meeting between the Election Commission (EC) and various other agencies, after Gen Prayut accepted the PPRP's invitation to be its prime ministerial candidate last Friday.

He said the meeting passed a resolution that specifies how the prime minister should conduct himself in the lead-up to the March 24 election, and that the premier has been notified of the details.

Mr Wissanu said the resolution complies with Sections 70, 76 and 78 of the organic law on elections, which prohibits a non-member of a party and candidates who are political post-holders from taking part in election campaigns.

Gen Prayut has previously turned down calls to run a caretaker government in the lead-up to the poll.

The sections maintain that officials and political post-holders must take care to perform their duties within the bound of their legal responsibilities, even if such duties affect their campaigns in any way, said Mr Wissanu.

He insisted the rules that regulate the conduct of prime ministerial candidates are clear, and there is no need to interpret them in any other way.

Separately on Wednesday, PPRP's deputy spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the party will hold its first major rally since Gen Prayut accepted the party's nomination.

The rally, which will take place in Kanchanaburi on Friday, will be led by PPRP secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong, the party's chief election strategist for the Central Plains, Anucha Nakhasai, as well as party spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool, and PPRP executive Ittipol Khunpluem.

Mr Thanakorn said the party will advocate for the extension of state welfare card coverage to include more low-income earners, extending the moratorium on village fund debts, and the provision of more subsidies to farmers.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva advised Gen Prayut to join the public debate on party policies. "As a prime ministerial candidate, Gen Prayut should exchange his views and showcase his visions so people can make informed choices," he said.

Several prime ministerial candidates have taken part in debates on key policies that were organised by media outlets, and more public debates have been planned in the lead up to the election.

"People have the right to compare the candidates," Mr Abhisit said.

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