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Published on August 28, 2007

The general election will be held on December 23, Elec-tion Commission (EC) chairman Apichart Sukhagga-nond said yesterday after consulting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

EC member Sodsri Sata-yathum, however, criticised Surayud and Apichart for announcing the election day without consulting the political parties.

She warned that when the previous EC did the same thing, the April 2006 election was declared void by the Constitution Court.

Apichart said the meeting concluded that December 23 was the most proper day for holding the national poll. The EC will ask the government for Bt1.9 billion to run the election.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said the election decree was expected to be effective by late October after being announced in the Royal Gazette.

MP candidates will be able to register by early November, he said.

Surayud said he would have to wait until three organic bills related to the election management became law before he handed the election decree for royal endorsement. The bills covering political parties, elections and the EC are now under readings of the National Legislative Assembly.

He said the vote would enable the existing caretaker civilian government to give way to a popularly elected government with a mandate to revive the economy and maintain national unity.

The election date was set after the country passed the national referendum on the draft charter on August 19.

Asked if martial law, which is still in force in a number of northern and northeastern provinces should be cancelled to make the election fair for all parties, Surayud said the issue had nothing to do with fairness. Instead he believed the EC would handle the polls effectively.

He ruled out speculation that a "political accident" would occur to delay the election. All parties were looking forward to the election so democracy can be restored.

Before the meeting with the EC chairman, Surayud assured Thai ambassadors and consuls that the next election would be held late this year. During the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, he said the next government would be formed in early January or by February at the latest, according to ministry spokesman Tharit Jarungwat.

The premier was quoted as telling the envoys that Thailand's image in the world community had improved as the government had kept its promise about ensuring that the Kingdom would return to democracy as soon as possible.

Surayud told reporters afterwards that following the recent national referendum on the draft constitution, the kingdom's image had also improved in the eyes of countries previously opposed to the post-coup administration.

Meanwhile, Sodsri said Surayud and Apichart announced the election day without consulting all parties related to the election.

"I doubt whose resolution [on the election day] they are referring to," she said.

Earlier, she said she had warned them through an interview with the press that they should consult with political parties before making a conclusion.

The Constitution Court [dissolved by the September coup] ruled last year to cancel the April 2, 2006 poll because the former EC set the election day without consulting political parties, making them unprepared for the poll, she said.

Sodsri regarded yesterday's announcement as the resolution of only Surayud and Apichart, not that of all EC members, she said.

Both of them should call a meeting with political parties to let them know officially, she added.

The Nation