Political parties must come to terms with new Act, says Wissanu
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Thursday that political parties would lose out if they were unable to field candidates on time as required by the new Political Parties Act.
Wissanu said the Act would come into effect soon, and concerned parties will have to comply with it unless the joint committee reviewing the law would write in some exemptions for them.
Political parties cried foul after the new Act was passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last week, as they feared they would not be able to find candidates to field in all constituencies.
The new law requires parties to open branches or have representatives in provinces. These local members will vote in a primary election to find candidates for the parties first, a process viewed by the parties as becoming complicated at this point.
Wissanu downplayed concerns, saying the lawmakers would take their concerns into consideration before going ahead with it.
He himself was not certain if a primary election fits the Thai political condition, he said.
