The path to the Feb 2 general election is not yet clear despite 34 political parties reporting to the Election Commission (EC) on the first day of candidacy registration. The first day of party-list candidate registration was thrown into disarray after several hundred anti-government demonstrators surrounded the Thai-Japanese Stadium, the candidate registration venue. Even though representatives from nine political parties including the Pheu Thai Party were able to get inside the stadium, representatives from 25 other parties which were not able to get in went to file complaints at the Din Daeng police station and the Crime Suppression Division. They also reported to EC officers at Din Daeng station since they were unable to submit their documents. The parties included Pheu Thai, Chart Pattana, Rak Santi, and Chartthaipattana. All the 34 parties will join a draw for ballot sheet numbers to be scheduled later. Any change of venue will first be announced in the Royal Gazette. "We will see when the time comes. They may have to get in by abseiling," joked EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn. "We have until Friday. Every party has to register. If they can't the EC will see what it can do," said Mr Somchai. But more hurdles still lie ahead as the protesters are set to block the parties from taking part in the draw. More chaotic scenes can be expected when registration for constituency candidates is held between Saturday and next Wednesday in 77 provinces nationwide. The South could experience particularly bad disruption as it is the support base of the Democrat Party and most voters there have made it clear they will boycott the election. Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban called on protesters last night to protest at each location where the election process takes place. There are various tactics to disrupt the election, particularly the protests led by former veteran politicians like Mr Suthep, secretary-general of the PDRC. He told the protesters that "since most people do not want the election, what can [the EC] do if local election committee members take the ballot boxes from voting venues and throw them in the river"? After all, the anti-graft movement may be the most crucial factor that could disrupt the new government and the House after the election, if it happens. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)'s investigation into the government's rice-pledging scheme will also deal a blow to the caretaker government. An NACC inquiry committee said it expected to conclude the case after the New Year and this would adversely affect the government. |
综合外国12月24日报道,23日是泰国2014年大选政党分配议席候选人登记第一天,共有34个党派提交了登记候选人名单。有分析称,从当天的乱象来看,泰国当局期待以选举化解政治危机的愿望恐难实现。此外,在为泰党提交的名单中,泰国前总理他信的亲属占据主导地位。 ***34个党派首日登记 本月9日,泰国看守政府总理英拉宣布解散国会下议院,明年2月2日重新选举,以期化解政治危机。然而,反对派要求用不经选举产生的“人民议会”取代英拉政府。 23日的政党分配议席候选人登记地点设在位于曼谷北部的泰日体育场。当天,登记现场一片混乱:体育场各个入口均被一早赶来的反政府示威者牢牢堵住,仅有包括英拉所属为泰党在内的9个党派悄悄潜入,其余25个党派成员无法入内,只能在附近警局完成登记。 “如果这样的状况再继续下去,他们可能就得从高处沿绳子滑进体育场了。”一位选举委员会委员无奈地开玩笑道。他说,选举登记截止至27日,假若有党派没能如期完成登记,选举委员会将作出适当调整。 按照安排,候选人登记结束后,所有完成登记的党派还需参加抽签确定候选人编号。由于反政府示威者宣称将继续“围堵”抽签仪式,届时情况可能更糟。 ***政治前景不容乐观 依据泰国政府计划,本月28日至明年1月1日进行选区制直选议席候选人登记。 分析人士指出,选区制直选议席候选人登记涉及到全泰国77府,料将在更大范围内引起波动和骚乱,“其中,南部是泰国最大反对党民主党的支持者聚集地,当地绝大部分选民已明确表态抵制选举,所以,泰南的情形将会格外混乱。” 23日晚,领导街头反政府集会的民主党高层成员、前总理素帖号召示威者在“每一个选举地点”都举行抗议活动,“既然绝大多数人都不支持选举,假如地方选举委员会的成员把投票箱丢进河里,(选举委员会)他们又能有什么办法呢?” 《曼谷邮报》认为,即使泰国2014年大选顺利结束、选出了新政府和新国会下议院,但是此后,反腐败运动可能会给新领导层带来阻碍。与此同时,泰国国家反腐败委员会(NACC)针对政府出台“稻米价格保障计划”的相关调查预计元旦后结束,这也将对看守政府造成打击。 ***他信家族“光环”未褪 “铲除他信政权”是泰国反政府示威者的最强烈诉求之一。尽管如此,在选举委员会公布的为泰党登记名单中,泰国前总理他信的近亲依然占据前几位,这表明西瓦纳家族的“光环”仍未褪去,他们还是受到绝大多数泰国民众的欢迎。 名单显示,英拉被登记为为泰党第一号政党提名候选人,他信的姐夫、前总理颂猜则登记为该党第二号政党提名候选人。而第三号到第十号候选人也是反政府示威者厌恶的政界人士,例如看守政府劳工部长察霖、看守政府副总理素拉蓬和内政部长乍鲁蓬等。 泰国媒体分析称,通过登记名单中的人员选择和排位,可以看出为泰党对反政府示威者的诉求“视而不见”,仍然把西瓦纳家族当作“选举卖点”。 一位为泰党内部人士透露,为泰党高层认为,该党的支持者多于反对者,因此为泰党很有可能赢得选举。 “名单公布前,曾有人猜测为缓解政治紧张局势,英拉将不再是为泰党的头号候选人,然而事实并非如此。为泰党希望利用名单上的核心成员吸引与反政府示威者持不同意见的人士,并期待未来以该党候选人获大量选民支持的事实、驳斥反政府示威者宣称其代表民意的说法。”《曼谷邮报》说。 (译者 肉肉融 编辑 严玉洁) |