Thailand sets election re-run for October 15

BANGKOK - Thailand will re-run an annulled general election on October 15, a government minister has announced.

Environment Minister Yongyut Tiyapairat told reporters yesterday the cabinet set the date after a snap April 2 election failed to produce a constitutionally valid lower house of parliament due to an opposition boycott and was later declared unlawful.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called the snap election to counter months of street protests by foes accusing him of abuse of power and corruption, charges he denies.

The October 15 date was chosen to give politicians the 90 days the constitution requires for them to switch parties and run in an election, officials said.

The requirement was introduced in the 1997 constitution to prevent party hopping which made it difficult to form governments.

Some members of Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) are expected to swap parties, disgruntled with his leadership despite expectations that his strong support in the countryside will return the party to power.

With the House of Representatives unable to meet, revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej intervened, summoning top judges to his seaside palace and urging them to sort out the mess.

Yet a month after his intervention, little progress has been made with the Election Commission currently the main stumbling block.

The judges are urging the commission to quit, its three remaining members are holding firm and the main opposition parties are refusing to talk to it despite heeding the king's wish that they run in a new election.

On Tuesday, the Bangkok Criminal Court agreed to hear a lawsuit filed by an opposition politician accusing the commissioners of holding the April 2 poll unlawfully. It said the trial would start on June 19.

- REUTERS