EC confirms it is ready to hold next election

BANGKOK, May 6 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has confirmed that it is now ready to organize the country's next election either on June 26 or July 3.

Election commissioner Prapun Naigowit said the election agency believes that Bangkok's Constitution Court will finish reviewing three electoral laws, recently passed by the Thai Parliament, before the royal decree on the new national poll is officially issued--after an endorsement by His Majesty the King in a royal command.

Asked about criticism that the Thai government allocated excessive budgets in its last meeting last Tuesday, Prapun said that no one had asked the EC to examine the issue and that the cabinet holds the power to do so as the House has not yet been dissolved.

Regarding former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s plan to phone in to help campaign for votes for candidates of the Pheu Thai Party, Prapun said that would not be considered as wrongdoing as the royal decree on the next election had not been issued.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed Friday afternoon that he has already submitted a royal decree on the dissolution of Thailand's House of Representatives to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej for a royal approval.

Speaking to reporters at Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi Airport before flying to Jakarta to attend the 18th Summit, Abhisit said that he has done as promised to submit the royal decree on the House dissolution to His Majesty the King within the first week of May 2011.

Separately, the Air Force Chief ACM Itthaporn Subhawong insisted that the Royal Thai Air Force will remain impartial and neutral and will give equal cooperation to all political parties to launch their electoral campaigns at all its airbases and barracks across the country, based on legal rules set by the EC. (TNA)