First day’s registration sees 40 parties step forward

One familiar name was that of former senator Paiboon Nititawan, who registered the Reform People Party.
Others were political novices with backgrounds in business, civil society or academia, plus several farmers from the North and South.
The EC will check qualifications over the next 30 days, and in the meantime the parties can seek National Council for Peace an Order permission to hold meetings and other activities.
The junta’s ban on political activity of any kind remains in effect, though it is giving newly created parties some leeway.