Friday meeting to discuss lifting political restrictions

PHOTO: Facebook/prayutofficial

The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is set to chair a meeting at the end of this week with representatives of the Election Commission and political parties at the Army Club in Bangkok to discuss issues related to the yet-unconfirmed February 24 election.

The meeting expects to lift political restrictions and allow parties to launch election campaigns.

Spokeswoman of the NCPO Colonel Sirichan Nga-thong says that about 280 participants will attend the meeting.

But several parties have voiced their opposition to the possibility of General Prayut returning as PM and made clear they are not going to be present at the meeting. They include the former ruling party Pheu Thai, its sister party Thai Raksachart and the new Future Forward party.

The Democrats, which are also against Gen Prayut’s clinging to power after the election, have agreed to attend at this stage.

The junta have already eased some political restrictions by allowing parties to recruit new memberships, to meet with the people and to present their policies, but not to start electioneering. The junta have said they would allow only 60 days for campaigning leading up to the proposed election.

During his inspection trip to Chaiyaphum province yesterday, the PM told the people who showed up to welcome him to “elect the right candidates into the parliament, not the ones who just talk and do nothing.”