Thai govt sets date for general election

BANGKOK – Thailand’s military-appointed prime minister said on Monday that a general election should be held December 23, a move heralding a return to democracy but also risking a comeback by followers of disgraced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The election would be the first since Thaksin was overthrown by a bloodless coup last September after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters that all government agencies concerned were ready to support the official Election Commission on implementing that date.He spoke after meeting with commission members, who had suggested the date.The date, which is up to the commission, will become officially set only after King Bhumibol Adulyadej issues a royal decree.Thailand on August 19 held a national referendum that approved a new constitution, clearing the way for the new polls.Since then, politicians have been scrambling to start campaign preparations.They include followers of Thaksin, whose Thai Rak Thai Party won landslide election victories in 2001 and 2005 but was ordered dissolved by a court this May for electoral fraud committed during an April 2006 election.The court also barred Thaksin and more than 100 top members of his former party from taking part in politics.Thousands of former Thai Rak Thai members have joined the People’s Power Party, which on Friday named an outspoken veteran politician, Samak Sundaravej, as its chief.Samak, 72, was picked for the post despite being under investigation for corruption related to the purchase of fire trucks and bidding for a waste-management project when he served as Bangkok governor.He is widely known as a veteran right-wing politician who was a staunch denouncer of left-leaning student activists and communism in the 1970s.He has softened his image a bit since then by becoming a well-known cat fancier and celebrity chef.Nampa-APInterim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told reporters that all government agencies concerned were ready to support the official Election Commission on implementing that date.He spoke after meeting with commission members, who had suggested the date.The date, which is up to the commission, will become officially set only after King Bhumibol Adulyadej issues a royal decree.Thailand on August 19 held a national referendum that approved a new constitution, clearing the way for the new polls.Since then, politicians have been scrambling to start campaign preparations.They include followers of Thaksin, whose Thai Rak Thai Party won landslide election victories in 2001 and 2005 but was ordered dissolved by a court this May for electoral fraud committed during an April 2006 election.The court also barred Thaksin and more than 100 top members of his former party from taking part in politics.Thousands of former Thai Rak Thai members have joined the People’s Power Party, which on Friday named an outspoken veteran politician, Samak Sundaravej, as its chief.Samak, 72, was picked for the post despite being under investigation for corruption related to the purchase of fire trucks and bidding for a waste-management project when he served as Bangkok governor.He is widely known as a veteran right-wing politician who was a staunch denouncer of left-leaning student activists and communism in the 1970s.He has softened his image a bit since then by becoming a well-known cat fancier and celebrity chef.Nampa-AP