Asia-Pacific

Thai PM says House dissolution in early May

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-11 19:52

BANGKOK - A proposal will be forwarded a to Majesty the King to seek approval for a royal decree to dissolve the House of Representatives in the first week of May, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during a meet with Thailand's Election Commissioners in Bangkok March 11, 2011.  [Photo/Agencies]

He said this after consulting the Election Commission over the timing for the House dissolution and a subsequent general election on Friday afternoon.

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Draft amendments of three organic laws - governing elections of MPs and senators, the political parties, and the Election Commission (EC) - are expected to be forwarded to parliament next week.

The three organic laws need amendments in line with the amended constitution, so that the EC can effectively hold the election.

Early this month, the King endorsed the constitutional amendment draft. The amendments includes the bill on the electoral system.

Abhisit said some politicians or MPs may not agree with him, but it has long been his intention to call a fresh election before the government ends its term.

The minority of people should not be allowed to force changes in the country. A general election is a way of returning power to the people. Therefore, the majority of people should come out in force to show what they want in the forthcoming election, the prime minister said.

In March and May last year, the anti-government "red-shirt" protesters occupied Bangkok's important business area to pressure Abhisit to dissolve the parliament. Abhisit declined the time of dissolution, saying that he will dissolve the House only if three conditions, including success in amendment the charter, were met. The government later ordered the military crackdown on "red-shirt" protesters, resulting in 91 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries.