EC finalises new electoral map

Regime takes more ‘gerrymandering’ flak

The Election Commission (EC) has finalised the redrawing of the electoral boundary map, which will be officially announced shortly, setting the stage for political parties to choose candidates for the general election tentatively slated for Feb 24 next year, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has said.

Mr Wissanu said yesterday the pollorganising agency informed him on Tuesday that it has finished the new demarcation of electoral boundaries.

The new version of the boundaries is expected to be announced in the Royal Gazette shortly, Mr Wissanu said.

Mr Wissanu brushed aside gerrymandering claims after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued a Section 44 order allowing the EC to redraw constituencies on Nov 16.

He said the NCPO invoked Section 44 to issue an order that gives the EC more time to address complaints from parties and voters, saying the earlier drawing of constituencies failed to take public input into account.

The NCPO’s order No.16/2018 permits the EC to make changes to boundaries until Dec 11 when the bill on the election of MPs takes effect, which is much later than expected.

Some politicians and critics fear it may be an attempt by the regime to interfere with the process.

Mr Wissanu said the NCPO needed to issue this order because there are politicians and voters who had lodged complaints with NCPO and EC.

Mr Wissanu said the new electoral boundary map will be final after it is published in the Royal Gazette.

If some people still disagree with it, they will have to file a complaint with the Administrative Court, he said. The government will not use the special order to push for another redrawing, Mr Wissanu insisted.

The order has fuelled suspicion that the regime has attempted to meddle with the EC’s redrawing of electoral boundaries so constituencies could be divided up to deliver maximum electoral benefits for a pro-regime party in the upcoming general election.

EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong previously said the EC had tentatively finished redrawing the constituency boundaries on Nov 5, although it had not yet announced the new plan.

The EC did a last-minute review of the boundaries when he was undergoing eye surgery, Mr Ittiporn said, explaining why the announcement had to be delayed.

Meanwhile, Phumtham Wechayachai, secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, yesterday said that a total of 28 former constituency MPs have defected to other parties.

However, he said that the mass exodus of Pheu Thai politicians was not a cause for concern.

Mr Phumtham said that a “party affiliated with those in power” has so far drawn about 50 politicians from other parties to its camp.

He was referring to the Palang Pracharath Party led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, to which a number of Pheu Thai faithful have defected.

However, figures in previous elections show that about 20-30% of former MPs were not re-elected into the House of Representatives, Mr Phumtham said.

‘’Some are veteran politicians, but if they choose the wrong side, it is unlikely that they will be able to make it back to parliament,’’ he added.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the party will field poll candidates in all 350 constituencies nationwide.

Once the new demarcation of electoral constituencies is finalised and announced in the Royal Gazette, the process of selecting candidates should be finished in three weeks, Mr Abhisit said.

Democrat Party deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the party is ready to meet the NCPO on Dec 7. He also said the NCPO should now give a clear answer as to when the political ban will be lifted, as the election inches closer.

Yutthapol Angkinant, deputy leader of the Chartthaipattana Party, said Nikorn Chamnong, the party’s director, and Pisit Pittayathakulcharoen, will represent the party in the meeting with the NCPO on Dec 7.

Prime Minister and NCPO leader Prayut Chan-o-cha has set aside that date for talks with politicians on the decision to fully lift the political activities ban, in place since the military regime took power more than four years ago.

The NCPO partially lifted the ban in September, allowing parties to conduct some administrative activities, including holding meetings to select party executives and recruit new members.

The meeting will be held at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.