BANGKOK, 15 April 2014 – The Election Commission (EC) says it is difficult to predict the outcome of the meeting scheduled for April 22, when it will meet representatives from 70 political parties.
EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said it was impossible to predict what conclusions would be drawn, as the agency would have to take heed of the opinions of the political party representatives as well as the private sector.
As for the request by the Democrats Party to have the meeting televised live, the chairman said the EC had no authority to do so. He, however, said he was willing to discuss the issue.
Mr. Supachai also asserted that the EC would listen to all sides carefully in order to decide which would be the best and most appropriate date for the general election, claiming that having a caretaker government for an extended period of time would not be beneficial to the country.
The Election Commission last week met with military top brass and other security-related agencies to discuss the election issue. The meeting agreed that it was very unlikely that a general election could be held within 60 days, given the current political turmoil in the country, but admitted that an election was the only solution to the ongoing conflict.
