Related News
Thais vote to appoint new MPs
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AUTHORITIES in Thailand stepped up security yesterday, before the country's first by-elections today since a new government took power after sustained political unrest.
The Sunday polls will be a test of political strength for the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, head of the Democrat Party. Voters in 22 provinces will fill 29 parliamentary seats made vacant mostly by politicians disqualified from office. A total of 83 candidates from 13 political parties are on the ballots, said Election Commissioner Praphan Naikowit.
Abhisit was voted prime minister last month by a thin majority in Parliament after a court finding of electoral fraud led to the dissolution of three parties in the previous government coalition, packed with allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 after charges of corruption and abuse of power, is Thailand's most influential politician.
Abhisit's government was voted in with a majority of 37, with the support of 235 law makers in the 480-seat lower house of Parliament.
This followed months of sometimes violent protests against Thaksin's allies culminating in an eight-day blockade of Bangkok's airports in November.
Of the 29 seats at stake in today's polls, 13 belonged to allies of Thaksin in the disbanded People's Power Party that led the previous government, and 16 seats were held by the Chart Thai party, which was also disbanded.
The Sunday polls will be a test of political strength for the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, head of the Democrat Party. Voters in 22 provinces will fill 29 parliamentary seats made vacant mostly by politicians disqualified from office. A total of 83 candidates from 13 political parties are on the ballots, said Election Commissioner Praphan Naikowit.
Abhisit was voted prime minister last month by a thin majority in Parliament after a court finding of electoral fraud led to the dissolution of three parties in the previous government coalition, packed with allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 after charges of corruption and abuse of power, is Thailand's most influential politician.
Abhisit's government was voted in with a majority of 37, with the support of 235 law makers in the 480-seat lower house of Parliament.
This followed months of sometimes violent protests against Thaksin's allies culminating in an eight-day blockade of Bangkok's airports in November.
Of the 29 seats at stake in today's polls, 13 belonged to allies of Thaksin in the disbanded People's Power Party that led the previous government, and 16 seats were held by the Chart Thai party, which was also disbanded.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
