Kriengsak Charoenwongsak said a Cabinet meeting yesterday failed to discuss the election day and this could lead to MP candidates losing the opportunity to change parties if they so decide because they may not be sure of the election day until it is too late.

"Counting to the first day of MP candidacy registration on August 29, the candidates will have to decide by May 29 whether to change their party allegiance so they can have at least 90 days of membership before registration," he said.

Cabinet will meet again next Tuesday, leaving the candidates about a week to decide, he said.

 According to the law, the government has to propose a royal decree to schedule the election day and, until it does that, it remains possible for the government to move the election to an earlier day, he said, leaving candidates who have already moved short of the required 90 days.

The government's reason that it has not yet received the EC's official decision on the election day is not justified, he said.

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said not many Thai Rak Thai MP candidates are leaving the party at present because they are not confident about when the election will happen. The party might also offer big financial incentives to keep them.

Registration for party-list MP candidates will be from August 29 to August 31, while constituency MP candidates can register from September 1 to September 5, according to dates fixed at the Election Commission's meeting with political parties yesterday.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation