Sombat Thamrongthanyawong said the EC had lost credibility.

"The country is on the brink of ruin because there is no guarantee that a new vote under EC supervision will not be nullified again," Sombat said.

National Institute for Development Administration academic Sombat doubted if the election results would be accepted because no one trusted the EC to ensure a free and fair election.

He said opposition parties would have no choice but to contest the polls.

"It is really unfair to hold an election managed by a questionable watchdog and flawed democratic mechanisms," he said.

Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Thaworn Senneam said he would not withdraw a case against the EC even if the three commissioners resigned.

The commissioners could resign, even after the publication of the Royal Decree calling an election for October 15.

Thaworn claimed in the Criminal Court the EC acted improperly in its organisation of the April elections.

The court is scheduled to deliver a ruling on Tuesday.

Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who filed a similar, separate action against the EC said the cases would continue and the EC would not have special immunity.

Law Society president Dej-udom Krairit said a new EC could assume office in two weeks if the three current commissioners quit.

They face the possibility of being sentenced to jail if they are found guilty of malfeasance.

"I hope the three will resign instead of facing the verdict," he said.

Outgoing Senator Chumphol Silapa-archa did not think the commissioners would lose their jobs if found guilty. The verdict will be subject to appeal, he said.

Commissioner Virachai Naewboonnien confirmed his determination to manage the new election, dismissing speculation he was poised to leave office.

"People should stop speculating about resignations because no commissioners will quit," he said.

Sathien Viriyapanpongsa,

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation