The cabinet meeting on Wednesday 18, May 2011 has come to the following decision:
The Cabinet acknowledged the announcement of the Organic Law on Elections of the Members of the House of Representatives enforcement on July 3rd, 2011 as proposed by the Office of the Secretary to the Minister as follows:
1) Dissolution of the Members of the House of Representatives Decree B.E.2554 is announced in the Government Gazette under the Royal Decree issued under Article 128 Section 33A on May 10th, 2011 with the general election of the Members of the House of Representatives on July 3rd, 2011.
2) Office of the Secretary to the House of Representatives announced that the Constitutional Court judged the Draft of Organic Act on Election of Members of the House of Representatives in three issues.
3) Office of the Election Commission of Thailand has submitted the Election Commission Law for an Election of Members of the House of Representatives to announce in the Government Gazette in four issues.
The Office of the Secretary to the Minister has brought these four issues of the Law into the Government Gazette Article 128 Section 37A on May 14th, 2011 and enforced on May 14th, 2011.
The Cabinet acknowledged a discussion response as proposed by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand with the following gist:
According to the Prime Minister’s request for discussion about the duty of the Prime Minister and the Minister during the Dissolution of the Members of the House of Representatives in five issues, the Election Commission has considered the issues in the 46th/2011 meeting on May 11th, 2011 with the following comments.
1) Whether it is possible in case of utilizing the Government’s resource to provide the Prime Minister security such as a bullet-proof car and the use of Government’s personnel in security division and in case that the Prime Minister has to travel for a duty out of office hour or on public holiday such as campaign for the Members of the House of Representatives Election in various provinces. The Election Commission viewed that utilization as necessary is applied in case of regular Government’s duty and the judgment is applied case by case. However, in the case of utilizing the Government’s resource to campaign for the Members of the House of Representatives Candidates, this should be avoided as possibly leads to complaints.
2) Whether it is possible in the case that the Prime Minister is invited to be a speaker or lecturer in the seminar or academic conference of the Government agency, the private sector, or association with complimentary meal or dinner talk in which the organizer is responsible for the expense. The Election Commission viewed that the non-campaigning event can be chosen while the dinner talk should be avoided as possibly leads to complaints.
3) In case of conference, workshop, or academic seminar held by the Government such as the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan meeting, whether there will be any effect on the application of the Members of the House of Representatives Election if the Candidates for Members of the House of Representatives interest to join the event without invitation. The Election Commission viewed that if the Candidates for Members of the House of Representatives do not break the Election Law, it will not affect the rights to apply for Members of the House of Representatives. By attending these conferences, the Candidates for Members of the House of Representatives must be careful to refrain from any action persuading the voters to vote for the Candidates or any political parties or persuading for misunderstood in the vote of the Candidates or any political parties according to Section 53 of Organic Act on Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Installation of Senators B.E.2550.
4) What is the extent to which the Minister is invited for grand opening of educational institutions, hospitals, or the Government offices? The Election Commission viewed that the invitation can be accepted given the regular Government duty as necessary without campaigning or no violation of Section 53 of Organic Act on Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Installation of Senators B.E.2550.
5) Whether it is possible in the case that the Prime Minister goes on a tour of inspection or follows up work in provinces as part of a duty in which probably includes meeting with various groups. The Election Commission viewed that the regulation is similar to the discussion issue number 4.
The Cabinet acknowledged the summary of drought and storm situation and assistance (as of May 12th, 2011) as proposed by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior.
The Cabinet acknowledged the Agriculture Products Price and Output Index in April 2011 and Outlook for May 2011 as proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) May 18, 2011--