BANGKOK, 27 December 2013 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called an urgent meeting in Chiang Mai after the Election Commission proposed that the February 2 general election should be postponed.
Reports suggest that the Council of State has sent a letter to the premier addressing the EC’s recommendation to delay the election. The statement said that the EC has the authority to reschedule the date of the election in the event of violence or other extenuating circumstances as it is the central body that manages all electoral processes.
It suggested that the government express support for the EC’s decision in a bid to ensure a fair and transparent election.
The EC has earlier urged the delay of the election until there was mutual consent from all sides, following a deadly clash between protesters and police.
Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said in a televised address on Thursday that after the dissolution of parliament, an election must be held within 60 days. He affirmed that there is no law allowing the government to delay the election.
