Political parties to discuss Thailand's next general election

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - Many political parties will discuss the next general election with the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) on April 22. Supachai Jaisamut, Deputy Secretary-General of the Bhumjaithai Party, told journalists on Monday that leader and the secretary-general of his party will meet the EC, insisting that his party is looking forward to the next election because it is a duty of any political party. Supachai stressed that Thailand needs to have the parliament to drive ahead national progress and he hopes political parties will agree on the date of the next general election. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he will also meet the EC and he expects the next election will be fair and acceptable to all parties, noting, however, that a general election is not the only solution to national problems; so, he will also listen to opinions of other parties and make use of lessons gained from past polling. Pichai Nariptaphan, an economic staff of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, warned that persistent domestic political problems could cause the Thai economy to show down to the lowest growth rate among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the second consecutive year, urging conflicting parties to enter into a negotiation and adhere to appropriate principles. Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) to quickly work out solutions to domestic economic problems with concerned agencies and the private sector. Yingluck made the order at Monday's meeting of caretaker economic ministers, held at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok, during which Thailand's export and investment figures were discussed. The caretaker prime minister also told the meeting Thailand is now at risk of international investors' losing confidence in the Thai economy; so, government agencies need to work out solutions with the private sector, especially when there is not a permanent government for the time being. The caretaker prime minister then instructed the NESDB to report its proposed solutions to the next caretaker economic ministers' meeting.(TNA)