Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has finally decided to use his sweeping powers under the all-powerful Section 44 to extend deadlines for political parties to complete processes required by the organic law as they count down to the next election.
Speaking after yesterday's meeting of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Gen Prayut said the NCPO will address parties' concerns over the deadlines which are pressing in on them.
The NCPO agreed that Section 44 of the previous interim charter which has been carried over into the current constitution will have to be invoked to extend the deadlines stipulated by the organic law.
Both established parties and new ones should not be worried as they will be given an opportunity to proceed with their activities, the prime minister said.
However, he did not spell out when Section 44 is likely to be invoked.
"Things will still proceed according to the roadmap [for the election] and when the organic bill on the election of MPs becomes law, the election is inevitable," Gen Prayut said.
Under the organic law governing parties, which took effect on Oct 8, parties have deadlines to meet and prepare for the upcoming election. Within 90 days, or by Jan 5, they are obliged to report the number, identities and qualifications of all party members.
Gen Prayut, who is also head of the NCPO, has said the election will be held in November next year.
While the organic law on political parties has now come into effect, the election cannot be held because the organic bill on the election of MPs has not yet been finished, he said.
At the moment the parties' ability to prepare also is frustrated by a ban the NCPO has imposed on political activity. The parties have asked the government repeatedly to lift it, so far without success.
Gen Prayut also brushed aside talk of plans to set up a military-backed political party to help him return to power as prime minister beyond the 2018 election. "If there is any such a plot, it has nothing to do with me," Gen Prayut said.
He said military-backed parties of the past, including the Manangkasila and Samakkhitham parties, had failed because the people did not accept them, so there is no need to set up a similar one this time.
"Talk of a military party is probably intended to make people hate the government," he said.
Former Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong told the media earlier there was an ongoing "plot" to form a military party which would support Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak as party leader.
The name of the party would include the word Pracharath, the government's public-private collaboration, he said. The claims were dismissed by Mr Somkid.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said Section 44 of the interim charter is expected to be invoked before New Year to allow parties to resume some of their activities, mostly involving administrative work, and to ensure fairness for both established parties and emerging new ones.
For example, new parties seeking registration would be allowed to recruit at least 500 members.
If they want to hold a party meeting, they must obtain permission from the NCPO first, Lt Gen Sansern said.
As for established parties, they would be allowed to contact their members to update their status within a time frame set by an NCPO order to be issued under Section 44, Lt Gen Sansern said.
The spokesman also said security agencies had told the government the political ban cannot be lifted fully due to security concerns.
Under the organic law's Jan 5 deadline, parties must also have at least 500 members, finish collecting membership fees from them, register seed funds of not less than 1 million baht, elect party leaders and executives, write a party manifesto and regulations, set up provincial branches and prepare primary-vote procedures.
Almost all parties have expressed concern they would not be able to complete the activities in time, considering they have yet to be allowed to hold any party meetings.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the problems facing parties struggling to meet deadlines required by the organic law stem from the fact the NCPO's political activities ban contradicts the law.
Mr Abhisit also said that if the NCPO wants to use its special power under Section 44 to amend the organic law to extend the deadlines, it must have the proper justification because the law also has to comply with the time frames stipulated by the constitution.
Echoing Mr Abhisit's view, Chusak Sirinil, chief of the Pheu Thai Party's legal team, said the NCPO has itself to blame for causing the problem, not the organic law.
"Why let the problem happen, given the parties' calls for the ban to be lifted?" Mr Chusak said.
He added that the use of Section 44 to amend the organic law is improper given that the law underwent legislative procedures and has already received royal endorsement.
