Thai court says polls can be delayed, but does not tell how
25 Jan 2014 5:31 AM IST
An eight-member bench of the Constitutional Court ruled that the polls announced by Yingluck's caretaker government can be postponed.
Eight judges unanimously agreed that the vote can be postponed, and they voted 7-1 that Yingluck should discuss a new date with the Election Commission and issue a new date.
The was case forwarded to the court by the Election Commission to rule who had the authority to postpone the election, the poll panel or the caretaker government.
The Election Commission had asked the court to rule on the different legal interpretations of who has the power and responsibility to call a new election, despite a royal decree having been issued for the polls to be held on 2 February.
The caretaker administration has repeatedly said it has no authority to defer the polls declared by a royal decree. The poll panel argued that the caretaker cabinet has the responsibility to seek a new election through a new royal decree. Yingluck, who is under pressure to resign after nearly three months of street protests to topple her government, called the snap polls to ease the country's political deadlock.
Eight judges unanimously agreed that the vote can be postponed, and they voted 7-1 that Yingluck should discuss a new date with the Election Commission and issue a new date.
The was case forwarded to the court by the Election Commission to rule who had the authority to postpone the election, the poll panel or the caretaker government.
The Election Commission had asked the court to rule on the different legal interpretations of who has the power and responsibility to call a new election, despite a royal decree having been issued for the polls to be held on 2 February.
The caretaker administration has repeatedly said it has no authority to defer the polls declared by a royal decree. The poll panel argued that the caretaker cabinet has the responsibility to seek a new election through a new royal decree. Yingluck, who is under pressure to resign after nearly three months of street protests to topple her government, called the snap polls to ease the country's political deadlock.
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