Junta should lift ban on political activities after Royal Funeral: politicians
With the political party bill now enacted, politicians are calling on the National Council for Peace and Order, the ruling arm of the junta, to lift the ban against political activities after the Royal Funeral ends
The call to lift the ban came on the heels of the bill’s promulgation on Saturday. While it is one of essential laws that must be passed before the next election may proceed, it does not stipulate any timeline that political parties must immediately follow after the law comes into effect.
Political parties have been banned from official activities since the 2014 military coup. Influential political players from two major parties on Monday expressed hope that they would again be allowed to take up political activities after Thailand completes the mourning period for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Democrat Party’s legal team head Wirat Kalayasiri reasoned that due to new mechanisms introduced in the new law, including the primary voting system, political parties need to begin election preparations in order to keep up with the innovations.
Parties should be allowed to perform activities as long as they do not incite people, Wirat said.
Chart Thai Pattana Party director Nikorn Chamnong agreed that parties have a lot of preparations ahead under the requirements of the new law, in order to be ready for the future election call.
The NCPO should revise its banning order after October 26, when the Royal Cremation ends, said Nikorn.
