Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Thailand halts election preparations

1099678
1099678
minus
plus


Bangkok: Thai officials have halted preparations for general elections, which were set for February 24, as the poll date remains uncertain, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said on Tuesday.


“Let me assure you that we will get to vote a million per cent… but we haven’t yet seen the election bill coming out so we need to wait for clarity,” Anupong told reporters.


Anupong’s remarks came after a government document instructing local officials to halt election preparations was leaked and circulated on social media late on Monday. The minister confirmed its authenticity.


An election bill was initially due to be published in a royal gazette on January 2 to announce the election date, which had been set by the Election Commission for February 24. But the bill has yet to be published.


Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngam told reporters on Friday that the upcoming elections may need to be postponed in order to not affect the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, scheduled for May 4-6, and proposed March 24 as the new poll date instead.


Since coming to power in a May 2014 coup, the ruling military regime has postponed election dates at least four times. This delay would count as the fifth. — dpa



SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon