EC chairman: Election may be held Nov 25
BANGKOK, June 20 (TNA) - Thailand moved closer Wednesday to having a general election in November instead of the earlier announced December dates, a move that would help ease the country's political tensions. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont discussed the upcoming election timetable with the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) and the chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Wednesday, when it was agreed that Thailand's general election could be moved forward to November 25.
Gen. Surayud had said earlier that the general election must be held either December 16 or 23.Senior officers of the CDA including chairman Noranit Sethabutr and first deputy chairman Seri Suwannapanont, and EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond discussed election and constitutional referendum considerations with Gen. Surayud for half an hour to fix the dates for both the national referendum on the draft constitution and for the general election.Gen. Surayud told journalists after the meeting that there is the possibility that the date for holding the general election could be moved forward by holding the public referendum on the draft constitution at an earlier date.
One of the most important conditions is that whether the CDA members would approve the draft charter.
The government, however, wants to hold the general election transparently, in a manner agreed by both the EC and the CDA, Gen. Surayud said.EC chairman Apichart said if public referendum on the draft charter could be held August 19, general election could be held on November 25 at the earliest.Accordingly, the EC has tentatively set this date for holding the election on the condition that new political parties could be established within 30 days, he said. (TNA)-E111
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