Acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisarn has vowed to employ every means possible to ensure a general election takes place in July.
Acting caretaker prime minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisarn speaks to reporters at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence yesterday. He said the caretaker administration has an obligation to carry on until a new government is formed. Thiti Wannamontha
He made the vow yesterday while speaking to foreign reporters at the Defence Permanent Secretary's office.
Mr Niwatthamrong said he will meet the Election Commission (EC) tomorrow to discuss the polls tentatively scheduled for July 20. If there is a change in schedule, the poll must not be held later than July, he insisted.
The government will make every effort to ensure the vote takes place, the acting caretaker premier said, adding he did not believe a new election will suffer the same fate as the derailed Feb 2 polls.
Asked how the government will handle the election in the South if the Democrat Party boycotts the polls again, Mr Niwatthamrong said the Defence and Interior ministries would have contingency plans.
He said the caretaker government is ready to hold talks with anyone, including the Democrats and anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, but these discussions must abide by the law and democratic principles.
He also said that he would oppose any attempt by acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai to choose a neutral premier, saying no laws exist allowing this.
"The government's duty is to hold an election as quickly as possible," Mr Niwatthamrong said.
Democrat legal team chief Wirat Kanlayasiri, however, insisted Mr Surachai has the authority to call for a royal decree appointing a prime minister.
After the Constitutional Court ruled to nullify the status of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the status of the whole cabinet was also voided, he said.
There is no one else who can call for a royal decree, since Mr Niwatthamrong is only working as caretaker prime minister in an "acting" capacity, he said.
Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn yesterday said the government must consider three issues ahead of tomorrow's meeting with Mr Niwatthamrong.
First, Mr Niwatthamrong must be present at the meeting and not caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana.
Mr Pongthep has no authority to make decisions on the matter, Mr Somchai said. Other ministers that can aid organising the polls, such as the Interior, Defence and Education ministers, should also attend.
Secondly, the government must make it clear whether Mr Niwatthamrong has the authority to call for a royal decree for the election.
Finally, the government must clearly give an opinion on the EC proposal to add a clause in the royal decree that the EC can defer the election date by asking the government to reissue the decree if an emergency occurs.
If these conditions are not addressed, a new round of discussion will have to be arranged and the election could be delayed, Mr Somchai said.