No new elections before July 20, commissioner says

It will be at least three months before Thailand can hold another round of national elections and then completely ignore the results.

After a court invalidated the results of the last national poll, July 20 is the soonest possible date for a do-over, according to Somchai Srisuthiyakorn of the Election Commission.

The commission is scheduled to meet with representatives from 70 political parties today to discuss electoral hypotheticals. Next week it will sit down with the (caretaker) government to talk dates. Another 20 days would be necessary for royal approval and then 60 more days would have to pass before the date.

Somchai said the government and protesters should use that time to work on settling the political impasse, according to the Bangkok Post, without involving the commission.

Photo: ThaiPBS