Divided Thailand readies for advance voting on Sunday
On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that the government, in agreement with the Election Commission, could postpone the polls. But Yingluck's Pheu Thai party questioned the legal basis for the ruling.
One official, Thanin Boonsuwan, suggested that the court's ruling did not meet conditions set down by law or precedent. He said that the court decision was merely an opinion and did not mandate a postponement.
The debate over postponing the election came as polling stations across the country were preparing for advance voting on Sunday despite threats from protesters to block it.
Suphot Thariwiboon, an election worker in Bangkok, said there were concerns that protesters will occupy the polling stations, or block access for voters.
The outcome of Sunday's advance voting is seen as a harbinger for the main vote. Some 49 million of the country's 64 million people are eligible to vote, and 2.16 million of them have applied for advance voting. In the country's last general election in 2011, 35 million of 47 million registered voters cast their ballots.
Pheu Thai officials hinted the government would consider a postponement of the Feb. 2 vote if the opposition Democrat Party, which plans to boycott the polls, agrees to take part, and if anti-government demonstrators cease their protests.
Neither the Democrats nor the protesters have agreed to those conditions.
"This isn't about compromise," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said. "The people (protesting) will never go home because what the people want is political and national reform."
Yingluck and the Election Commission are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the election plans.
Commissioner Theerawat Theerarojwit said the election body believes the vote should be postponed so that the contending sides can first talk with each other.
"As for the February 2 election, I don't believe it can be held," he told reporters. "It won't be able to be held because if there are elections on that day people could get hurt, and the (Elections Commission) doesn't want people to get hurt."
Even if the polls go ahead, it is possible that protesters' efforts to block candidates and voters may result in some legislative seats not being filled, denying Parliament a quorum and keeping it from convening, which would prevent a new government from being formed.
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