FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Prayut ‘not responsible’ for possible poll delay: govt

Prayut ‘not responsible’ for possible poll delay: govt

MOVES to delay the election were under the jurisdiction of the legislative body and should not affect Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s credibility regarding the poll date, senior government officials have said.

The planned election date in November – as promised by Prayut during his visit to Washington last year – is appearing less likely as the bill vetting committee under the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is set to amend the MPs election bill, putting off its enforcement for 90 days. 
The NLA will deliberate the MPs election bill tomorrow and some members have suggested the delay should be 120 days.
Prayut yesterday did not mention his previous promise that he would announce the election date midyear and the poll could be expected by November. 
Prior to the US visit, Prayut had made several other promises on the end of the so-called “road map” and the election, but he has not succeeded in fulfilling them.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he hoped the international community would understand that the possible delay was in the hands of the NLA. 
“We have to make it clear that lawmaking is under the legislative body and the prime minister is not a member of that body. He is the chief of the executive branch,” Don told reporters yesterday.
Don added that he would explain the process to the international community but could not guarantee that they would understand. 
While the NLA is the rubber stamp of the military junta, Prayut said yesterday he would not overrule the authority of legislature.
“I have to be the example, showing that we have to have faith in the Parliament,” he said. “I am confident in the NLA and the Constitution Drafting Commission [CDC]. I’ll never transgress in their work.
 “Transgression into the system is not good at all. It would make it impossible for people to work,” he said. He also advised people to listen to different opinions and not rely on only a single source. 
“There are not many groups of people that keep talking about this issue [the election delay],” he said.
The election would take place eventually, but when and how would depend on decisions by involved agencies, he said.
“Everything follows the Constitution and the road map,” Prayut said. “We all want the country to be peaceful and move forward smoothly. The delay in the enforcement of the MPs election bill will also follow the Constitution.”

Influence denied
Critics question whether the bill vetting committee has been influenced by the junta in their move to delay the poll. 
Meanwhile, NLA whip spokesman Jate Siratharanon said yesterday the government had not sent any signals to the legislature regarding the controversial amendment. 
While debate still persists within the vetting committee, he said he would argue that the 90-day delay was necessary.
Considering the ongoing ban on political activities, political parties remain frozen. They could not hold meetings or carry out primary votes to determine election candidates, Jate said. Postponing the enforcement for another 90 days would give political parties time to prepare before the election period, he said. 
Chief charter writer Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the delay did not necessarily mean the election would be delayed, but if it was, it should not be longer than two to three months. 
“The calculation is usually based on the assumption that we use up the maximum time. But if the process can go quicker, then the election can take place sooner,” Meechai said.
In a related development, political critics and the Election Commission (EC) have suggested it would be easier if the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) lifted the ban and allowed political activities.
Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, a NCPO key member, yesterday said the government might have a different view on the matter and questioned whether the EC had the power to tell the government what to do. The organic bills had not been passed yet “so everyone should calm down. We will surely lift the ban,” Prawit said.
Asked whether the government would discuss the issue with the NLA as its image was at stake, Prawit said: “The government has not made any change to the road map. We have not done anything. It’s all [in the hands of] the NLA and the CDC. There are more than 200 legislators, we cannot possibly talk to all of them.”
 

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