The Election Commission released the official list of parties’ candidates for prime minister without the name of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, the king’s elder sister. The list excluded Ubolratana "because every member of the royal family comes within the application of the same rule requiring the monarch to be above politics and to be politically neutral," the panel said in a statement after a meeting. The princess had accepted the nomination of the Thai Raksa Chart party, a populist movement drawn from supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been at the center of more than a decade of turmoil in Thai politics. The March 24 elections are the first since a 2014 military coup toppled a pro-Thaksin government. Among the candidates for prime minister is the current junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army chief led the coup. The panel did not mention a separate petition seeking to ban Thai Raksa Chart on the grounds that it … [Read more...] about Thai election panel disqualifies princess as PM candidate
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Thai PM begins election campaign on social media
The Facebook page of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha, which was launched on October 14 (Source: www.bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha has launched his election campaign by joining social media, as political parties have started their campaigns for the election scheduled to take place next year. Over the weekend, he launched a website, www.prayutchan-o-cha.com, available in Thai and English, along with opening Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. In a statement, the Thai leader noted that since many people use Facebook for communication, he would jump onto the platform too. "I would like to open my Facebook personal account as another channel to communicate my policies and work, as well as those of the government," the Thai PM wrote on the launch of the @prayutofficial Facebook account on October 14. He also encouraged Thai people to exchange views or state their problems on his social media. The … [Read more...] about Thai PM begins election campaign on social media
Thailand’s ruling junta eases ban on political activities
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: Xinhua) Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’s ruling junta on September 14 partially eased its ban on political activities, paving the way for the general election scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019. Under the decision, which was announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, political parties are now permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members. However, election campaigning, including holding public gatherings, is still forbidden. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said election campaigning would be allowed after a law on the election is issued, possibly in December. After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities. This included a ban on any … [Read more...] about Thailand’s ruling junta eases ban on political activities
Thai political parties to get 60-day election campaign
Thai 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 … [Read more...] about Thai political parties to get 60-day election campaign
Thai Deputy PM promises to relax political ban
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (Source: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has affirmed that the election date will be between February 24-May 5 next year, and that the ban on political activities will be relaxed soon. He said on August 23, after meeting with the new Election Commission (EC) members, that the ban will be relaxed within 90 days after the election laws of the House of Representative members and appointment of Senates are announced. Once the ban is eased, parties can conduct six political activities without asking for permission from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), including convening general meetings, holding primary voting to select their candidates, and earmarking election areas. The ban will be fully removed within 150 days after the two laws take effect. NCPO spokesman Maj. Gen Piyapong Klinpan said the military administration will continue maintaining peace and order to … [Read more...] about Thai Deputy PM promises to relax political ban