The government must spell out assurances for the roadmap to the elections if it wants to restore economic confidence which has taken a battering since the junta took over, according to core figures in the Pheu Thai and the Democrat parties who spelt out their wishes for Thai New Year yesterday.
Acting Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai wants the government to provide clarity on the poll roadmap, saying this will help restore investor confidence in the economy. Giving clarity on the election will be the best gift for the people during the Songkran festival, Mr Phumtham said.
The government must assure the public that the roadmap, now expected by February of next year, will not suffer any more delay.
Critics have recently voiced concerns the election schedule will again be pushed back beyond next February after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) submitted an organic bill on the election of MPs to the Constitutional Court.
This sparked an outcry among politicians that the military regime was conspiring to drag the poll schedule out via a plan to submit the bill for a validity check.
Mr Phumtham said it was important for Thailand to return to normalcy as quickly as possible and for the government to restore democracy and let the people determine the country's future.
"I want everything to proceed according to the roadmap. No more flip-flops. I also want the prime minister to state clearly that he will enter politics. We are set to welcome you," Mr Phumtham said.
Pheu Thai acting leader Viroj Pao-in yesterday urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to come clean about a report that a pro-regime political party is being formed to support him to return as prime minister after the election.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak had previously dropped a hint that a new party is being formed to support Gen Prayut and told reporters to seek answers from Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong.
The remarks coincided with media speculation after a political group applied to register the Pracharath Party with the Election Commission, with Mr Uttama speculated to be the new party's leader and Mr Sontirat its secretary-general.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday criticised the government's handling of the economy during its time in office.
He noted the government should assess the cost-effectiveness of its economic stimulus programmes. Several of the measures have missed the target and failed to spur the anticipated economic growth, with wealth concentrated in the hands of certain groups.
The government should change its way of thinking and find ways to boost people's income to achieve broader income distribution, which in turn will help bolster state coffers, Mr Abhisit said.
He said the regime has maintained peace and order for more than three years, which many hope will lay the groundwork for further national development.
But as it stands, several of the government's policies have proved to be short-term, knee-jerk solutions, Mr Abhisit said. For example, the government has spent nearly a trillion baht trying to stimulate the economy several times. In some cases, a tax waiver was introduced as to encourage people to shop or invest. But overall, this did not help improve the livelihoods of the majority of the people, Mr Abhisit said.
Addressing the government's political reform, the former prime minister said that the constitution which came into force more than a year ago, has caused a great deal of consternation. In particular, the status of independent organisations under the legislation organic to the new constitution is the most worrisome, Mr Abhisit said.
He also took aim at the coup-appointed NLA, saying that several pieces of legislation issued by the lawmakers were largely meant to please the regime.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took to Facebook yesterday, wishing Thais a happy Songkran. With a picture of him wearing a colourful Hawaiian shirt or sua lai dok in Thai which is widely worn during Songkran, Thaksin also took a sarcastic swipe at the regime's perceived attempts to delay the poll.
"I really hope that that we will see an election eventually take place by Songkran next year," Thaksin said.
Thaksin has lived in exile since fleeing the country in August 2008 while on bail after he received permission to attend the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
