The general election might be postponed by a week from July 20 because of the protest by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), Varathep Rattanakorn, caretaker PM’s Office Minister, said on Thursday.
Protesters break into an air force compound and force acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to flee an election meeting. Reuters video.
Mr Varathep said PDRC protesters arrived at the headquarters of the Air Force Thursday where the government was discussing election preparations with the Election Commission (EC), so the meeting was called off to prevent a clash.
As the discussion was forced to end early, a royal decree to set the next election could not be issued on May 20-22 and thus the next election could not happen on July 20, he said. Mr Varathep said he thought that there would have to be a week's delay.
The caretaker government was ready to discuss political solutions with the Senate but the Senate had not officially contacted it.
Regarding demonstrators’ call for the Senate, the judiciary and the EC to form an interim government to work out national reform before the election, Mr Varathep said a government should be established through an election.
He said the EC already amended its regulations to allow the online registration of election candidates. Anti-government protesters had blocked candidacy registration for the Feb 2 election at many venues.
Election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn agreed that the election would be postponed. He said the government called off discussions with the EC on Thursday morning even though the EC had proposed talks with the protesters as they arrived.
The government now planned to discuss election preparations with the EC via video conference, Mr Somchai said.