Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called on the people to go to the poll scheduled for February 2, which is expected to settle down the country’s political tension.

She stressed that political turmoil has caused negative impacts on the country’s economy, particularly in tourism.

She made the appeal on January 5 in the context that thousands of opposition protesters continued marching through Bangkok to demand the PM step down.
Protest spokesman said this was a "warm-up" for their planned occupation of the city on January 13.

The march was held just a few days after protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban called a mass rally on January 13 to paralyze Bangkok.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on January 4 warned that the planned January 13 shutdown would be illegal, adding that the disruption on the scale would a violation of the law and would create difficulties for citizens and business operators.

In another development, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party on January 4 kicked off campaigning for the February election.

The Puea Thai Party launched its re-election bid with rallies in northern heartlands and on the outskirts of the capital, which has been shaken by weeks of anti-government demonstrations that have left eight people dead and about 400 wounded.

Political turmoil in Thailand has caused a serious damage to the country’s economy. It has to postpone a 65 billion USD investment to infrastructure, which was expected to make up for production difficulties.-VNA