Thai political parties to get 60-day election campaign hinh anh 1Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: VNA) 
 
Bangkok (VNA) – 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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