Bangkok, Pattaya elections expected in May

Bangkok, Pattaya elections expected in May

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda. (File photo)
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda. (File photo)

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda expects elections for Bangkok governor and Pattaya mayor will be held in May.

Gen Anupong told the Senate on Monday that the Interior Ministry was coordinating with the Election Commission on organising both city elections.

They would meet again on Feb 21 ahead of the cabinet decision, expected in early March.

The cabinet would pass the needed resolutions and tell the EC to announce them, Gen Anupong said.

"After the cabinet resolution, the elections must be organised within 60 days. Initially, they should be in May because there will be no Songkran holiday or religious festivals then," he said.

In late March, the EC would announce the elections. It was up to the cabinet whether the Bangkok gubernatorial election and the Pattaya mayoral election would be on the same dates, the interior minister said.

He thought they would be at the same time.

"There are procedures. They are not delayed. Legal procedures are being implemented. The elections are not being put off for the benefit of any political party," Gen Anupong said.

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