National Legislative Assembly President Pornpetch Wichitworachai has warned critics to refrain from blaming the coronation ceremony for causing a potential delay of the election.
He said that authorities concerned with organizing the election must choose the appropriate timing for the election and to make sure that it does not not affect the auspicious ceremony which, he added, would bring joy and happiness to the Thai people in general “because they have high respect for the Monarchy”.
Besides, he noted that the government must make sure that all the preparations related to the coronation ceremony befit a very special event.
Most importantly, the NLA president stressed that the election process until the formation of the post-election government must not duplicate with the schedules of the coronation ceremony and related ceremonies throughout the month of May.
Uncertainty about the February 24 election emerged after Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm met last week with the Election Commission to discuss about the election day and schedules of the coronation ceremony and related ceremonies.
Emerging from the meeting, he told the media that the election should not duplicate with the coronation ceremony schedules.
The coronation ceremony itself was scheduled on May 4-6 by the Royal Household Bureau.
While hoping that all parties concerned must accept the importance of the coronation ceremony, he said that the exact timing of the election would be determined by the Election Commission once the Royal Decree on the election of members of the parliament is promulgated into law.
According to the Royal Decree, election must be held within 60 days after the promulgation of the decree.
