Thailand To Hold Next General Election On 20 July

BANGKOK, May 1 (TNA) – Thailand’s caretaker government has accepted proposals from the Election Commission (EC) and set the next general election on July 20. EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said that the caretaker cabinet met the EC on Wednesday (April 30) and accepted the EC’s proposals to prevent problems in the next election, including the suggestion that security authorities strongly protect the polling stations from anti-government protesters to prevent the recurrence of past obstruction to the Feb 2 election. “Security agencies including both the military and police attended the meeting yesterday. The Royal Police Office is ready to fully cooperate in compliance with laws in case that the enforcement of the election law is blocked,” the EC secretary-general said. According to Mr Puchong, the government and the EC agreed to hold the next election on July 20, 2014. The EC will discuss the matter with the Council of State and draft a royal decree to set the polling date. The EC will propose the draft to the cabinet on May 6. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, caretaker deputy prime minister, foreign minister and chief adviser to the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order, said that the center would ensure order in the election together with the Ministry of Interior and the military. The number of protesters against the next election is likely to drop because legal actions have been taken, said Mr. Surapong, adding that he believed the upcoming general election would be a peaceful and smooth one. (TNA)