2 February Election Can Be Postponed, Court Rules
By Khaosod English
BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court has paved a legal path for the postponement of 2 February election.
The Court has ruled that, despite the constitutional requirement which dictated that an election must be held in 60 days after the House is dissolved, a postponement of 2 February election would not be unconstitutional.
The Court also clarified that the government and the Election Commission (EC) have the joint authority to postpone the election, namely by issuing a Royal Decree.
It advises the government and the EC to discuss the matter.
The full text of the verdict is not yet available.
The verdict followed a request filed by the EC to the Constitutional Court, asking the judges to determine whether the poll can be postponed.
Key Election Commissioners support the postponement, citing a potential widespread violence which might occur on 2 February should the election go ahead as planned, as anti-government protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have vowed to disrupt the election in every possible way.
PCAD demands that an unelected "People′s Council", whose members would be selected by PCAD leadership, be established and implement series of "reforms" before any election is allowed to take place.
The EC′s reluctance to organise the election, and its filing to the Constitutional Court, has led pro-government faction to accuse the EC of conspiring with PCAD to scuttle the 2 February election.
Source:
http://www.khaosod.c...TFOamd3TVE9PQ==