Election registrations proceed in 70 provinces
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Pol Maj Gen Prachuab Pao-In, former chief of Metropolitan Police Branch 4, receives flowers from supporters after registering for the election on Saturday.
A member of Pheu Thai Party, he was the first candidate in Angthong registered for the February 2 election.
At 11am, the Election Commission announced Saturday morning that 343 of 375 constituencies could proceed with the candidate registrations. The registrations of constituency-based candidates in 32 constituencies in six southern provinces could not proceed, though. They are Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Songkhla and Chumphon, Surat Thani and Patthalung. Protesters in the provinces blocked candidates from submitting their applications.
At 2pm, the EC said registrations proceed at 73 provinces, while those at Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Songkhla and Chumphon remain suspended.
At 3pm, Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn announced that the registrations in six Southern provinces - Chumphon, Surat Thani, Krabi, Songkhla, Phattalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat - are suspended.
He also announced the election officials in Chumphon have resigned, after power and water supply was cut off. No candidate showed up in Surat Thani. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, about 500 protesters blocked officials from getting into the registration venue. In Samut Sakhon, some 100 anti-government protesters submitted a petition to the province's election chief, asking for the postponement until reforms are complete.
At 6.30pm, the EC announced that the registrations at seven southern provinces, including Phuket, were called off. There are 32 constituencies in the provinces.
