Snap Election

[Coyotee]

Thaksin announces House dissolution

updated - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced a House dissolution Friday evening after he was granted an audience with His Majesty the King.

Thaksin told a live TV broadcast that he could not allow a group of people to use mob rule to force him to comply so he decided to return the mandate to the people.

"I beg your permission to return the mandate of the people to make a decision again," Thaksin said on TV.

"April 2 will be a very important day … I'll accept the decision of the majority of the people but I won't listen to only a group of people who tried to cite power outside the system to force me."

The prime minister said a group of people, who had lost benefit because of his government, were trying to topple the government while a larger group of people wanted him to stay.

Thaksin said he considered that returning the mandate to the people is the best way-out under democratic rule.

"I would like to ask the people to decide whether you still want this government to serve the country … I have to uphold the democratic rules to return the mandate to the people … No matter how the people will decide, I'll accept it," Thaksin said on TV, which was broadcast at 8:45 pm on all TV channels.

Before he appeared on TV, he had a spokesman read a statement on TV criticising his opponents for not playing by the rule and explaining why the House was dissolved.

Thaksin entered the Chitralada Palace at 5 pm to be granted the audience and left the palace shortly before 6 pm.

The prime minister then went to the Thai Rak Thai party head office and told reporters there that he had received a royal command to dissolve the House of Representatives.

He appeared relaxed and humming a song.

"Only House dissolution, no Cabinet reshuffle," Thaksin told reporters at his party's head office.

A Government House source said Thaksin decided to dissolve the House because he could find a suitable person to replace him as the prime minister.

The source said Thaksin wanted the snap election to be held as soon as possible. The source said Thaksin wanted to have the election held on April 2 or April 9.

Election Commission member Parinya Nakchattree said the EC would be able to make preparations in time for the election to take place on April 2.

He said the EC would have to send lists of eligible voters to each house at least 20 days before the Election Day but he was confident that the preparations could be made in time.

Suriyasai Katasila, a coordinator of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD was unhappy with the House dissolution and saw it as an selfish act of the prime minister.

He said the House dissolution would not solve the current political problems but would allow Thaksin to try seek a political come back and prolong his political power.

Anek Laothamthap, a former leader of Mahachon Party, denounced Thaksin for dissolving the House without informing other parties first as he had promised in the past.

Anek said Thaksin used to say he would inform MPs and other parties at least 90 days before a House dissolution so that MPs could switch party.

"He lied and took the edge over other parties," Anek said.

[LivinLOS]

And the excrement falls towards the rotating air mover..

Wonder how this will pan out..

[fun2have]

thaksin still seems to have big support in the rural north east.

but the south, will probably, stay democrat.

well the vote buying will start, the pooh yi baan will start calling in favours, to get the villagers to vote for his choice.

perhaps the "massage king" turned politician will make a hard contest of it.

but the scandals, men of influence diposing off or being disposed off will continue most probably.

[shark1963]

Politics has ever been and will ever be a dirty game. and there is no player with a white dress! If Thaksin goes there will be another "thaksin" coming. Same same in all other countries. This is no Thai speciality

[K2]

Originally Posted by Malaysian

He appeared relaxed and humming a song.

I wonder what song he was humming ... one of your limmericks Sef?

[Crustasian]

Here we go again.Another round of elections and bar closing days.

May the best man win - only problem there is no best man

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

Here we go again.Another round of elections and bar closing days.

May the best man win - only problem there is no best man

Is this going to mean ALL the Patong bars won't be open at all on election day?

[Crustasian]

Yep.Every time there is an election Bangla is closed down tight.Normally some side street bars or up on Nanai might sneak open after 8pm..

[dogblower]

Have to admit I'm still having trouble getting to grips with the rationale behind this; foreigners can't vote, and probably more than 90% of the bar staff in Patong can't vote while they're away from their home province. Fcuk the tourism industry - it's the law!

[fun2have]

not allowing the thais not resident in their own tambon to vote, is just disenfranchising the lower socio-economic groups who must relocate for work opportunities.

the rich in los, continuing their control over the poor rural thais.

imho the tourist resort areas, should be granted special exemptions, but of course i doubt any thai government would approve such a move, in a concrete official manner.

last election, i was in the north east, and it was no problem of course to get booze, but only at the village shop, big c etc would not sell it.

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by dawsey

Is this going to mean ALL the Patong bars won't be open at all on election day?

Guess you will be leaning on some lampost outside one of the 7-11.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by fun2have

not allowing the thais not resident in their own tambon to vote, is just disenfranchising the lower socio-economic groups who must relocate for work opportunities.

the rich in los, continuing their control over the poor rural thais.

Actually its the rural NE that have given TRT its power base.. The educated middle class and richer Thais tend to be more anti taxin and democrat..

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by gez

Guess you will be leaning on some lampost outside one of the 7-11.

Might be a night to visit Robert [Urtheman] at his restaurant.Hope its licensed

[stevem]

I see this as just a ploy for him to gain another term in office, to which he is not entitled. He has already been in office for 2 terms, and that is the limit in Thailand. Will he win, of course he will.

[nelsonone]

Originally Posted by stevem

I see this as just a ploy for him to gain another term in office, to which he is not entitled. He has already been in office for 2 terms, and that is the limit in Thailand. Will he win, of course he will.

Do you think that there is any chance of this one gettin' ugly if he wins again Steve?????

I mean demonstrations and protester violence etc...

I know he has tight control of the police and military etc but is the oppposition strong enough now to start some civil disoreder??

I am not asking this for sensationalist reasons......I just don't know how strong the opposition is or how big a threat they are in this regard????

[stevem]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

Do you think that there is any chance of this one gettin' ugly if he wins again Steve?????

I mean demonstrations and protester violence etc...

I know he has tight control of the police and military etc but is the oppposition strong enough now to start some civil disoreder??

I am not asking this for sensationalist reasons......I just don't know how strong the opposition is or how big a threat they are in this regard????

Mate anything is possible, obviously I'm nolonger there so dont have a feel for whats going on. I do feel that if he does get in again, he will reel in those in opposition to him, and that may not be pretty.

[nelsonone]

Thanks for your thoughts Steve..........it does seem that Thaksin is breaking new ground.........even for him....so I was just wondering aloud whether there is a viable opposition for government or if he wins again to effect real opposition either inside or outside of parliament......

[LivinLOS]

The thing to notice is that the king calls him in and then Taxin immediately orders a house dissaloution.. The king has played a very impartial role (as he should really) but its very clear the king does not like taxin or agree with much of his policies..

Now if that was to be made clear or leak in an effective way (wacky tacky seems to have the media pretty tightly sewn up though) then the rural Thai vote would vanish...

I dont see revolution on the streets in the next little bit but he does seem on his way out.. This would get him an extended term as I understand it..

[nelsonone]

It is interesting that dynamic between the king and old Toxic LiL.........King seems to call him in quite a bit for a dressing down.....it is a wonder (well not really) that this is never dealt with by the press.......

I think Toxic was called in when i was on my last tour to be "advised" by the King to drop his civil law suit against one of his biggest critics in the govt.....not sure of his name or rank but he's the main one givin Tax the gyp lately..........Toxic was trying to bankrupt him in the hope of getting him out of the picture asap

The King does seem like he has all of Thailand at heart.........but old Tax...well he and his "businessman" son are another kettle of fish altogether

[fun2have]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Actually its the rural NE that have given TRT its power base.. The educated middle class and richer Thais tend to be more anti taxin and democrat..

yes i agree, that the NE is a TRT power base, as i said about Taksins support in the NE.

what i inferred about the disenfranchising of the rural migrant poor is their need to go to tourist/urban centres for work and opportunity.

the disenfranchising by the system of people only being eligible to vote in their tambon, reduces their political strength, their right to vote.