Thai political parties to get 60-day election campaign

Thai Deputy Prime Minister in charge of legal affairs Wissanu Krea-ngam has said political parties will be given 60 days to campaign for the general election scheduled for December 2018 after the junta partly lifted a ban on political activities.
Thai political parties to get 60-day election campaign ảnh 1Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: VNA) 
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Deputy Prime Minister incharge of legal affairs Wissanu Krea-ngam has said political parties will be given60 days to campaign for the general election scheduled for December 2018 afterthe junta partly lifted a ban on political activities.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cabinet members are not allowed torun for election though they could become members of executive boards orconsultants of political parties.

If the general election is held in February 2019, local electionsare slated for May the same year.

Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence MinisterPrawit Wongsuwan denied rumour about a Cabinet reshuffle, which is consideredto pave the way for government members to run for election.

At the recent Thailand Forum 2018 held in Bangkok with thetheme “Political roadmap and election”, politicians committed to raising localincome. The Democratic Party vowed to narrow the income gap and increase localinvolvement in policymaking while the Pheu Thai Party stated economic policyneeds to meet public demand and promised to offer opportunities to businessesand financial services.

Anutin Charnirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party,suggested raising the gross domestic product by over 4.8 percent. He said thegeneral election will be delayed till the late 2019.

Thai media quoted General Secretary of the ElectionCommission (EC) Jarung Phumma as saying that it is ready to start the processof choosing Senators and complete it within 90 days.

According to the law, the EC will be responsible fornominating 50 parliamentarians, and the remaining 200 will be chosen by theNational Council for Peace and Order. Later, the list of 250 parliamentarianswill be submitted to the council and the PM in early 2019 before receiving aroyal approval.

On September 7, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed toprevent fraud and vote purchase in the next general election.-VNA
VNA

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