Thailand to hold election re-runs in April
Iran Press TV
Wed Feb 12, 2014 4:25PM GMT
Thailand is set to hold election re-runs in late April in constituencies where voting was obstructed by anti-government protesters.
Election Commission Secretary General Puchong Nutrawong said voting would be held on April 27 for polling stations that were unable to open in early February.
This comes as millions were denied the opportunity to cast ballots, with blockades by opposition demonstrators. On February 2, anti-government protesters disrupted the election by blocking the delivery of ballots to many polling stations and forcing authorities to cancel voting in parts of the capital, Bangkok, and several southern provinces.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Constitution Court has rejected a request by the opposition to annul the controversial elections disrupted by anti-government protests.
The court said there were insufficient grounds to consider a petition by the Democrat Party to nullify the February vote.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the election in an effort to defuse anti-government anger and respond to demands for her resignation.
The Democrat Party boycotted the vote, saying it would not end the protests.
The Election Commission has said the results will not be announced until voting is held in all constituencies.
The demonstrations were triggered on October 31, when the government proposed an amnesty bill that could have pardoned the prime minister's brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to the country.
Thaksin was toppled in a military coup seven years ago, following rallies accusing him of corruption. Since then, Thaksin has lived in a self-imposed exile to avoid a prison sentence.
JR/AB/SL
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