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| Thailand elections proposed for 2 February | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's government has proposed new elections be held on 2 February, hours after the prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of parliament in an attempt to calm the country's deepening political crisis. | |
| Thailand's election commission must formally approve the date, and electoral officials will meet with the government in the next few days to discuss it. | |
| "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election. So the Thai people will decide," Yingluck said in a televised address as thousands of protesters resumed demonstrations across Bangkok. | "At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election. So the Thai people will decide," Yingluck said in a televised address as thousands of protesters resumed demonstrations across Bangkok. |
| The leader of the anti-government movement, Suthep Thaugsuban, said he would not end his demonstrations and would continue a march to Yingluck's offices at Government House. | The leader of the anti-government movement, Suthep Thaugsuban, said he would not end his demonstrations and would continue a march to Yingluck's offices at Government House. |
| "Today, we will continue our march to Government House. We have not yet reached our goal. The dissolving of parliament is not our aim," Suthep, a former deputy prime minister under the previous military-backed government, told Reuters. | "Today, we will continue our march to Government House. We have not yet reached our goal. The dissolving of parliament is not our aim," Suthep, a former deputy prime minister under the previous military-backed government, told Reuters. |
| The ruling party said Yingluck would run in the election. | The ruling party said Yingluck would run in the election. |
| "She will definitely run as she has worked with the party all along. We dissolved parliament because we are confident ... We want the Democrat Party to take part in elections and not to play street games," Jarupong Ruangsuwan, head of Yingluck's Puea Thai Party, told reporters. | "She will definitely run as she has worked with the party all along. We dissolved parliament because we are confident ... We want the Democrat Party to take part in elections and not to play street games," Jarupong Ruangsuwan, head of Yingluck's Puea Thai Party, told reporters. |
| About 100,000 protesters, including former MPs from the opposition Democrat Party, marched through Bangkok on Monday. | About 100,000 protesters, including former MPs from the opposition Democrat Party, marched through Bangkok on Monday. |
| Protesters have been on the streets of the capital for weeks, clashing with police and vowing to oust Yingluck and eradicate the influence of her self-exiled brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. | Protesters have been on the streets of the capital for weeks, clashing with police and vowing to oust Yingluck and eradicate the influence of her self-exiled brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| The clashes petered out last week as the nation celebrated the king's birthday, but political hostilities have resumed in earnest. | The clashes petered out last week as the nation celebrated the king's birthday, but political hostilities have resumed in earnest. |
| Puea Thai won the last election in 2011 by a landslide, enjoying widespread support in the north and north-east, Thailand's poorest regions. The Democrats have not won an election in more than two decades. | Puea Thai won the last election in 2011 by a landslide, enjoying widespread support in the north and north-east, Thailand's poorest regions. The Democrats have not won an election in more than two decades. |
| Suthep, aware that Yingluck would probably win an election, has been urging the setting-up of a "people's council" of appointed "good people" to replace the government. Yingluck has dismissed the idea as unconstitutional and undemocratic. | Suthep, aware that Yingluck would probably win an election, has been urging the setting-up of a "people's council" of appointed "good people" to replace the government. Yingluck has dismissed the idea as unconstitutional and undemocratic. |
| The pro-establishment Democrat party said on Sunday all its members of the House of Representatives would give up their seats because they were unable to work with Yingluck's ruling party. | The pro-establishment Democrat party said on Sunday all its members of the House of Representatives would give up their seats because they were unable to work with Yingluck's ruling party. |
| Without the Democrats, the 500-member lower house will have 347 members. | Without the Democrats, the 500-member lower house will have 347 members. |
| The demonstrations are the latest eruption in nearly a decade of rivalry between forces aligned with the Bangkok-based establishment and those who support Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon who won huge support in the countryside. | |
| Calling an election would not end Thailand's political deadlock if the Democrats boycotted it, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University's Centre for South-east Asian Studies. | |
| In 2006, amid mass protests, the Democrats refused to contest a snap election called by Thaksin, who was deposed by the military five months later. | In 2006, amid mass protests, the Democrats refused to contest a snap election called by Thaksin, who was deposed by the military five months later. |
| "This is only a short-term solution because there is no guarantee that the Democrats will come back and play by the rules," says Pavin. "We don't know whether they will boycott the elections or not." "It seems like Thailand is going nowhere," he said. | "This is only a short-term solution because there is no guarantee that the Democrats will come back and play by the rules," says Pavin. "We don't know whether they will boycott the elections or not." "It seems like Thailand is going nowhere," he said. |
| Suthep has told his supporters they have to take back power from what he calls the illegitimate "Thaksin regime" and that they cannot rely on the army to help. | Suthep has told his supporters they have to take back power from what he calls the illegitimate "Thaksin regime" and that they cannot rely on the army to help. |
| The army, which ousted Thaksin in 2006, has said it does not want to get involved though it has tried to mediate. | The army, which ousted Thaksin in 2006, has said it does not want to get involved though it has tried to mediate. |
| Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid a corruption conviction, but has remained closely involved with his sister's government. The protests were sparked last month by a government bid to introduce an amnesty that would have expunged his conviction. | Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid a corruption conviction, but has remained closely involved with his sister's government. The protests were sparked last month by a government bid to introduce an amnesty that would have expunged his conviction. |
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