EC to meet govt on draft of Royal Decree for snap election
Security will be beefed up for the Election Commission (EC) members who meet today with government representatives to discuss the drafting of a Royal Decree on holding an election.
EC secretary general Puchong Nutrawong said the EC had requested a police escort for five EC members, besides routine checks at their residences. However, he did not request bullet-proof vehicles or ask police for security officials to be permanently stationed at the EC members’ houses to keep them under guard at all time. He did not think the present situation warranted such high security.
He said acting PM Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkan-jana and caretaker PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn would attend the meeting with the EC at its office.
He said the EC had arranged a reserve office following anti-government protest rallies to pressure them against holding a poll. Puchong said the EC had met with its legal specialists for two hours on Monday.
Those at the meeting had presented differing views over whether the EC had the authority to inform the acting PM to draft a Royal Decree to schedule a new poll date if there was a riot or a crisis.
