‘House to dissolve Monday’
PM sends decree for royal endorsement
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to dissolve the House of Representatives on Monday once a royal decree granting authorisation has been published in the Royal Gazette.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Chiang Mai yesterday, Gen Prayut hinted that he had already submitted for royal endorsement a decree to dissolve the House.
“I have already prepared for it. Just wait and [the royal decree] will come out,” he said when pressed by reporters about the matter.
Asked if the royal decree to dissolve the House would come on Monday, Gen Prayut said: “You have to wait for it to be announced in the Royal Gazette first.”
When quizzed on whether he would continue to make inspection trips to the provinces as a caretaker prime minister after the House is dissolved, Gen Prayut said he still had work to do, and he will continue with the visits to ensure officials remain active as the country gears up for the election.
Gen Prayut yesterday met with local residents at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre, where he was briefed on measures to tackle unhealthy levels of PM2.5 air pollution in the northern province.
He said Chiang Mai is a popular destination among foreign visitors and that the government is trying its best to promote tourism.
“I will do my best as long as I serve as prime minister. Everyone knows the election is approaching, and it will determine the country’s future. It is up to you to make the decision,” Gen Prayut said.
The government is counting down to a House dissolution after the Election Commission (EC) announced the electoral boundaries of the 400 constituencies on Thursday.
The House of Representatives’ fouryear tenure will end next Thursday.
On Thursday, the EC announced the boundaries of 400 constituencies, with Bangkok having the highest number at 33, followed by 16 constituencies in Nakhon Ratchasima, and 10 each in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat while five provinces, such as Trat and Ranong, have only one each.
The EC has forwarded the constituency boundaries to the cabinet’s secretariat for publication in the Royal Gazette, according to an EC source.
Based on the new boundaries, Bangkok and 26 provinces in the Central Plains region will have a total of 122 MPs, while 14 provinces in the South will have 60 MPs, the source said.
Sixteen provinces in the North will have 37 MPs, and provinces in the Northeast will have the largest number, at 133. The country’s eastern region will have 29 MPs, and the western region will have 19, the source said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was confronted yesterday by a woman in Chiang Mai who complained about economic hardship and said she could not wait for him to dissolve the House and call an election.
The prime minister, who was making an official visit to the northern province, was leaving the Khruba Sriwichai statue in Muang district for his next stop when the woman, who later identified herself as Wandee Ratduang, shouted out that she had flowers for him.
Catching his attention, Ms Wandee gave him some withered flowers along with candles and joss sticks and demanded to know when he would dissolve the House. Gen Prayut told her to wait for an official announcement.
Flashing an anti-government three-finger symbol, Ms Wandee told reporters she has had enough of the current government.
She said it was time to change the prime minister and she wanted to know when the elections would take place.
Ms Wandee, a native of Phichit, said the withered flowers represented the state of the nation after eight years of Gen Prayut’s leadership. Security officials were standing nearby but did not try to escort her away.
SOMSAK TO REJOIN PHEU THAI
Somsak Thepsutin confirmed yesterday he will rejoin the Pheu Thai Party as he announced he was stepping down as justice minister and would not assume the caretaker role.
He said he decided to leave the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) because it does not fully oversee economic ministries, which he said means it is unable to comprehensively solve the nation’s economic woes.
Mr Somsak attributed this to the ruling party having won just 118 House seats in the 2019 general election and thus being forced to form a coalition government and sharing economic portfolios with its partners.
Pheu Thai, which is gearing up for an anticipated landslide victory in the upcoming poll, is a good fit for him, Mr Somsak said.
“I’ve decided to apply to become a Pheu Thai member, but I also want to make public that I’m stepping down as justice minister and I won’t assume the caretaker role [for that position],” he said.
ELECTION RULES FOR SOLDIERS
Army commander Narongpan Jitkaewtae said the personnel guidelines are to remind soldiers of the dos and don’ts surrounding political participation as political campaigns kick into high gear.
He said soldiers are expected to conduct themselves professionally during this time, adding they are required to follow guidelines already reviewed by the Election Commission (EC).
According to the army chief, political parties can hold campaign rallies inside military bases but they are required to submit requests via the EC and comply with the rules because some military-supervised areas are restricted.
Election campaign boards are springing up throughout the country, with many being critical of the military’s role in politics or calling for the abolition of conscription for Thai citizens.
When asked about campaign materials deemed critical of the military, Gen Narongpan said he has no say on where election campaign materials should be erected, but at least they should not obstruct traffic or pose security or safety concerns.
CHUVIT’S CRUSADE
Chuvit Kamolvisit, who has declared war on the Bhumjaithai Party, yesterday filed a petition with the EC, accusing the party of violating rules that govern party donations.
Section 72 of the Political Parties Act bans political parties or political office holders from accepting donations or other benefits from sources suspected of being illegitimate. The offence can lead to the disbanding of a political party.
Mr Chuvit said he is asking the poll agency to look into donations given to the second largest coalition party by Burijarearn Construction Co and determine if the party has violated the law.
Burijarearn Construction is at the centre of the share concealment case against Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, the secretary-general of Bhumjaithai, currently in the Constitutional Court.
Mr Chuvit claimed that Mr Saksayam helped secure concessions for the firm in 40 Transport Ministry projects between 2020 and 2022 and that Burijarearn Construction made several financial donations to Bhumjaithai.