Thai election date expected in next few days

November 7, 2000
Web posted at: 12:19 PM HKT (0419 GMT)

BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) -- Thailand's elected lower House of Representatives is likely to be dissolved on November 9, paving the way for a general election around the end of the year, a top government official said on Tuesday.

Wissanu Krea-ngam, secretary-general to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, did not say when exactly the election would be held.

But he told reporters Chuan was seeking an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the next one or two days to request his approval to dissolve the lower house, the first move needed before announcing a date for polls.

"Everyone agrees that it (the House) will be dissolved this week. If it is November 8, the election will be on January 5 ... if it is dissolved on November 9, it can be held on January 6, giving us about 59 days to prepare," Wissanu said.

He said a recently amended electoral law appeared in the Thai Royal Gazette on Tuesday, allowing the election to be held under a new constitution designed to curb vote buying.

Opinion polls suggest Chuan is running behind telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra in the race to lead Thailand.

Chuan and his finance minister, Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, have faced criticism from the opposition in recent months for offering inadequate help to Thailand's fragile economy, which is still suffering three years after the Asian crisis began in 1997.

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