Thailand’s upcoming elections have been delayed at least five times at this point. It looks like a safe bet we’ll soon be changing that to “at least six.”
While nothing’s official yet, Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday declared that March 24 appeared to be the “most suitable” new date for Thailand’s 2019 election, the one currently scheduled for Feb. 24.
Wissanu told reporters outside Government House located in Bangkok’s Dusit district, explaining that dates he’d previously suggested, including March 10 and 17, may conflict with university admission exam or not leave enough time for political parties to effectively campaign.
“So March 24 appears to be the most suitable date,” he said adding that a Royal Decree can be expected next week, reported Thairath.
The deputy PM’s announcement comes just a day after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gave the clearest indication yet, since talks of election delays started up again at the beginning of this month, that the currently scheduled polling date will be pushed back.
“Our country is going towards full democracy. There will be an election no matter what. Any delay that is made will have a reason… but it will still be by May 9,” the junta leader said — crediting the delay to the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn scheduled for May 4-6.
May 9 is the deadline prescribed by the Constitution, requiring the poll to be held within 150 days after electoral laws came in effect on Dec. 10 of last year.
“We have to live together for a little while longer. Please don’t get bored yet,” Prayutch added.
Responses to the new predicted polling date, so far, have been mixed.
While some political leaders like Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, remain doubtful, saying that the new date is only Wissanu’s prediction, others declare themselves “very confident.”
“I think it is very likely that the election will take place on March 24… I can say I’m 80 percent certain,” Ekkapap Polseu, a member of the Strategy Committee at the Phalang Pracharat Party — the conservative pro-junta political party — told Coconuts Bangkok this morning.
“I don’t believe there will be any more delays,” he said.
Nevertheless pro-democracy citizens plan to take the streets of Bangkok again tomorrow afternoon to criticize the government’s many delays to the polling date. This would be the fourth demonstration in less than two weeks.
The Guardian reports that last Sunday’s protest was one of the biggest in over four years — indicating growing frustration with the ruling junta.
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