Political parties who were unable to register candidates for the general election have voiced their anger at yesterday's decision by the Election Commission (EC) that the Feb 2 poll will go ahead.
The EC backed the vote despite 28 southern constituencies not having any candidates, after opponents of the poll blocked entry to the registration venues.
The commissioners refused to extend the registration period, angering those who wanted to contest the election but could not. The refusal also raised fears the House would be unable to convene and selection of a prime minister would be impossible after the election.
EC secretary-general Phuchong Nutrawong announced the decision yesterday.
"Now we have a royal decree for the Feb 2 election, the EC can insist that the election is conducted," he said.
Mr Phuchong said the commissioners will not extend the registration period, as requested by Pheu Thai Party, some other parties and those who could not register in the 28 southern constituencies.
The 28 constituencies are in Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Phattalung, Songkhla, Chumphon, Phuket and Nakhon Sri Thammarat provinces.
"EC commissioners see no laws supporting the extension of the registration period," said Matha Silapun, director-general of the EC's Election Administration Department.
Mr Phuchong said the EC suggests candidates who failed to register file a complaint with the Supreme Court in line with Section 39 of the 2007 election law.
Section 39 stipulates that registered candidates who failed to have their name placed on local EC candidate lists can petition the Supreme Court within seven days of the list announcement.
"We believe the judicial system would offer candidates fairness," Mr Phuchong said.
However, representatives of parties seeking to extend the registration questioned how the House of Representatives could convene to select a prime minister, as there would be a shortfall of MPs.
They also asked why the EC was prepared to spend a large budget on the election if it would not resolve the stalemate.
Observers said a new government could not be installed despite the election.
Under the constitution, the House can only hold its first meeting to select the prime minister if at least 95% of the total 500 MPs are endorsed, which means there can be no more than 25 MPs missing from the election.
With 28 constituencies having failed to register candidates, the minimum number of MPs cannot be achieved.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the EC failed to help candidates who missed the registration despite the fact that it is the EC's responsibility to ensure they register.
Bhumjaithai Party deputy secretary-general Suphachai Jaisamut urged the EC to try harder to solve the problems.
Mr Phuchong insisted the EC's decision was not politically motivated but based on election laws.
He said out of a total 375 constituencies, elections will take place in 347, covering 69 provinces.
The protests, particularly in the South, meant 123 potential candidates were unable to register during the Dec 28-Jan 1 registration period.
As well as the 28 constituencies with no candidates, another 22 will have only one contestant.
The party-list election will run in all 375 constituencies, since 53 parties have managed to register their party-list candidates.
Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said he had given up trying to act as a mediator between the Pheu Thai Party and the Democrats because the two sides ignored his requests to send top executives to talks.