Thailand to hold national elections on December 23

Bangkok, Aug 27 (UNI) Thailand's Election Commission today announced that elections to choose a new parliament and government to replace the current military-appointed rulers will take place on December 23 this year.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, appointed by the leaders of the September 19 coup d'etat last year, said the polls will enable his caretaker civilian administration to hand over to a popularly elected government.

The election panel's announcement of the poll date at a press conference comes after voters approved the country's new Constitution in the August 19 referendum.

However, the slight majority of the yes-votes in the referendum showed that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still popular in the country.

Concern has been expressed by the coup leaders, some political parties and sections of the media that the national election could be manipulated by the former Prime Minister who is living in self-exile abroad.

Although Mr Thaksin's party was disbanded earlier this year and most of its senior members barred from public life for five years, the ousted leader enjoys widespread support in rural areas as a result of his government's populist policies.

Political analysts, however, agree that the general election is unlikely to give any single party a majority in parliament and Thailand is headed for another period of shaky ruling coalitions.

UNI