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Published on November 7, 2007

Politicians and election officials are all set for the start today of the long-awaited registration of party-list candidates, with pomp and spectacle expected at the Thai-Japanese Youth Sports Stadium in Din Daeng.

All major political parties contesting the December 23 poll made their final arrangements yesterday for the signing-up of their members for proportional voting and the drawing of candidacy numbers.

The parties' key figures and candidates plan to arrive at the venue before the registration desks open at 8.30am so they can draw lots for a fair designation of candidacy numbers.

Matchima Thipataya Party leader Prachai Leophairatana said he would lead his 80 party-list candidates to register in style with a grand procession of 10 symbolic lions and dragons for good luck. He hoped his party would get "No 1" when he draws for its candidacy number.

However, Matchima Thi-pataya ran into trouble after the Election Commission resolved to endorse the change of its name from Matchima, but refused to sanction the new executive board led by Prachai.

Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhag-ganond said the refusal was because Matchima Thipa-taya's meeting to elect board members was carried out publicly, and the Political Parties Act required such meetings to be conducted confidentially.

He suggested the party hold a new meeting conforming to the law and in the meantime refrain from promoting Prachai as its leader.

As for the troupes of performers expected to accompany the candidates, he warned that overdoing the pageantry could get political parties into trouble.

"That could be construed as 'entertainment'," he said.

People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej said

he would lead his party's candidates even though astrological signs suggested today would not be auspicious.

Samak said he preferred not to have a large group accompanying the candidates. "However, we can't upset our supporters by barring them."

The Democrat Party would send its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to head up its squad of candidates. They would also join a five-member team in drawing for the candidacy number, a party source said.

It remained unclear whether the Democrats would bring along any form of entertainment to cheer their entourage.

The Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana Party plans a parade of supporters and long-drum dancers. Its leader Chettha Thanajaro, secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit and deputy leader Anek Laothamatas would represent the party in the lot drawing, a party source said.

The Election Commission was geared up to take applications from party-list candidates from today until Sunday, its secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said.

"All preparations have been completed and the EC is ready to welcome candidates as well as their supporters and will allow any festivities, such as long-drum processions and dragon dances, to enliven the registration process," he said.

The EC expected to complete checking candidacy qualifications within 10 days of registration, he said.

All party lists for the eight constituencies nationwide have to be filed with the central registration centre in Bangkok, while candidates for direct voting will register next week from Monday to Friday at their constituency centres.

Of the 480 House seats up for grabs, 80 will be decided by proportionate votes cast in eight constituencies, each with 10 seats, and 400 will be allocated via direct votes cast in 197 constituencies, each with one to three seats depending on the number of voters.

Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj General Suporn Phansua said 200 police would be deployed to maintain peace and order at Din Daeng.

"We will allow supporters of each party to stand only in the allocated area. There will be metal barriers separating them to prevent brawls,'' he said.

The Nation