Thailand’s re-election no later than April 28th

Under the Thai constitution, parliament must convene its first meeting within 15 days after the official results of the counting of at least 95 percent of votes is announced on May 9th.

According to EC Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong, the commission has received 326 complaints in connection with prospective winners in 66 constituencies since the voting on March 24th.

Earlier, the EC ordered re-elections at six polling stations in Bangkok, Lampang, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok and Yasothon provinces as the number of voters who turned up did not match the number of marked ballots, and the recounting of votes at two stations in Khon Kaen province because the first counts were inconsistent with the number of voters and marked ballots.

Ittiporn Boonpracong said that the EC’s decision to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on its method of calculating and allocating party-list seats will not affect the endorsement of official poll results on May 9th.

Thailand held its general election on March 24th at more than 92,000 constituencies across the nation. The EC’s preliminary results with over 95 percent of votes counted showed that the Palang Pracha Rath party that supports Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha won the most popular votes nationwide, followed by the Pheu Thai party./.