A general election will be held within 60 days, Election Commission (EC) member Sodsri Sattayatham said on Monday.
A general election will be held within 60 days, Election Commission (EC) member Sodsri Sattayatham said on Monday. (File Photo)
"I expect there will be a general election within 60 days, as stated in the constitution," Ms Sodsri said, after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced a House dissolution on national television at 8.45am.
Sixty days from Dec 9 is Feb 7, 2014, a Friday. She suggested Feb 2, a Sunday.
The commissioner said members of the Democrat Party who had resigned from the House could register again and contest the polls.
The EC will cancel the planned by-elections on Dec 22 to fill eight seats previously left vacant by the resignation of Democrat MPs, she added.
Last month, nine Democrat MPs resigned to lead an all-out protest against the Yingluck administration. One was a party-list MP, not requiring a by-election.
On Sunday, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announced that all 153 party MPs had agreed to resign with immediate effect.
EC spokeswoman Jinthong Intarasri said electoral officials would meet with the government in the next few days to discuss the election.
Government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said the government had proposed a general election be held on Feb 2.
The date was agreed on at a cabinet meeting in Bangkok, Mr Teerat told The Associated Press.
Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan said Pheu Thai is ready for the elections and that Ms Yingluck would again be No 1 on the party list.
Mr Charupong said the Pheu Thai executive committee would meet in one or two days to lay down an election strategy.
He said the return to politics of 109 executives of dissolved political parties would liven up the elections and do away with a possible problem over selection of candidates.
Yingluck Shinawatra, left, and Charupong Ruangsuwan. (File Photo)
Mr Charupong said he expected Ms Yingluck to run in the election because he believed people want her to return as prime minister.
Party members backed her to once again be at the top of their candidate list.
The Pheu Thai Party leader also had words of advice for the opposition Democrat Party.
"Don't be afraid of an election," Mr Charupong said. "Don't play a street game. Although you have lost in the last eight elections, one day you might win."
Mr Charupong said fellow coalition parties on Sunday confirmed in talks that they would continue working with Pheu Thai. "It is also possible that some opposition members would join us," he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he also believed Ms Yingluck would run again, but has not talked to her about it.
In Ratchaburi and Ayutthaya provinces, small groups of red-shirt supporters turned up at provincial halls on Monday to back the outgoing premier.
Sixty tambon and village chiefs gathered at the provincial hall of Ratchaburi.
In Ayutthaya, around 100 red-shirts went to the provincial hall to voice their support for Ms Yingluck.
Red-shirt core member Surachet Chaikosol urged the Democrat Party to respect democratic principles by taking part in the election.
"A new election could save the country from economic, investment and social damage. It is in line with the constitution," he said.
Analysts said the elections were unlikely to satisfy opponents who want to rid Thailand of the influence of the Shinawatra family.
