Govt 'smart to hold back on poll date'
Pramuan Ruchanaseree, a renegade Thai Rak Thai MP, launches his new book ‘People’s Powers’ yesterday as a sequel to ‘The Royal Powers’, which caused an uproar within the ruling party several months ago.
|
|
Pramuan Ruchanaseree, a former Thai Rak Thai party-list MP, said yesterday the government was clever to hold off on fixing a date for the general election out of fear that "all bees in the beehive will die".
He said if the poll went ahead on the tentative date of October 15 with five political parties outlawed, most candidates would not meet the Constitution's requirement that they belong to a political party for 90 days before the vote. The balloting day must be scheduled carefully and transparently so it is acceptable to all parties and can allow democracy to move on, he said. On Wednesday, Suranand Vejjajiva, a Thai Rak Thai executive and caretaker PM's Office minister, said the government had decided to postpone seeking a Royal Decree for the election because of the pending court case, which may affect the status of political parties. Pramuan said Snoh Thienthong would formally inaugurate his Pracharaj Party after the Constitution Court rules on the dissolution of the parties. Pracharaj has already signed up 6,000 members and opened five branches. Prachai Leophairatana, the ousted boss of Thai Petrochemical Industry, is also interested in joining, he said. Pramuan was speaking during the launch of his new book - "People Powers" - at TPI Tower. His previous book - "Royal Powers" - was the talk of the town last year when Jaruvan Maintaka's hold on the auditor-general's post became a political hot potato.
|
