Thai caretaker PM dismisses call for adjourning general election

Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dismissed a call for postponing the next general election set for Oct. 15, but saying the cabinet would consider the issue if necessary.

The prime minister was quoted by the state run Thai News Agency on Sunday as saying that the issue should not be considered at the moment, but after the new five-member Election Commission (EC) is elected.

The Senate will finally vote for the five new election commissioners, out of 10 nominees selected by the Supreme Court last week, at its extraordinary session scheduled for Aug. 15.

The new commissioners will replace the previous ones, three of them were recently sentenced to a four-year jail term by the Criminal Court for mishandling the April general elections, one resigned earlier this year and the other died last year.

Some senators and critics have expressed concerns that the election of the new EC would not be complete in time for the new election body to organize the Oct. 15 poll and proposed that the general election be postponed.

"The problem has yet occurred. Let's discuss and consider the problem, if any, after the new EC is elected," Thaksin said.

"The cabinet will definitely consider the issue when necessary, " added the caretaker prime minister.

A Royal decree setting the next general election on Oct. 15 was recently endorsed by the King of Thailand.

Source: Xinhua