Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party demands extension to election registration

BANGKOK, January 1 (TNA) – Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party has made a four-point demand to the Election Commission (EC) to extend the deadline for constituency candidate registration, which expires on Wednesday, after registration could not be carried out in eight southern provinces due to protests and blockades, said the party spokesman Prompong Nopparit. Mr. Prompong along with Pheu Thai Party members and representatives of three other political parties proposed the demands to EC office after prospective candidates were not able to register in the eight southern provinces, considered the springboard of the major opposition Democrat Party which has boycotted the February 2 general election. The demands would include allowing candidates who had been unable to register but had already filed complaints with police to contest in the upcoming general election. Mr. Prompong also urged the EC to take action or relocate registration venues to police stations or army barracks to avoid protestors. Blockade of registration venues continued on Wednesday in the southern resort province of Phuket, forcing EC provincial officials to temporarily suspend applications from 8.30 a.m. to noon. Officials announced that the registration venue would not be changed elsewhere. The atmosphere in Satun province was dull on the last day of the constituency candidate registration. Six candidates from three political parties, including Pheu Thai Party, had earlier applied to contest in two constituencies in the province earlier. (TNA)