THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Wissanu: Easing of restrictions after new EC members take office

Wissanu: Easing of restrictions after new EC members take office

The easing of political restrictions begin after new election commissioners assume office, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Wednesday.

Wissanu, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said that the new Election Commission (EC) members should help decide on the matter, along with the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
He noted that political parties, in their recent meeting with the government, suggested that the legal requirement for primary voting for election candidates should be waived in the next general election. Political parties argued that the restrictions prevented them from preparing for primary voting.
Wissanu said on Wednesday that he has assigned the Council of State, which is the government’s legal advisory agency, to find a solution in case primary voting is waived for the next election. “They have to find out what should be done to allow participation by political party members in selecting election candidates, in accordance with the Constitution,” he said.
Last week, five out of seven nominated members of the EC were endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly. The selection committee needs to find two new nominations to fill all the seven EC seats, as required by law.
Wissanu said he was pleased to meet the new EC members after they assume office, in order to brief them about what the government had agreed with the outgoing commissioners. “I may call on them at their office, if that’s more convenient for them,” he added.

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