By MISNA
Thailand’s elections took place without the feared violence , aside from tension around some electoral centers and polling stations. The block of the vote declared by the protest front worked only in part in nine provinces and totally in other nine on 77. Based on data issued by the Electoral Commission, the turnout to the polls was of around 20-million on 48-million voters, possibly 30% of which in the capital. There was therefore a significant voluntary abstention, as also a strong protest vote front, particularly in the capital Bangkok.
The government and allies were basically running alone for the election of candidates in parliament in 375 constitutencies, but the electoral commission released no results in regard. Further voting is already scheduled for February 23 after problems with advance balloting January 23 for professional reasons or other, while polls in nine southern provinces where candidates were unable to register may not happen for weeks. The government has called for a new vote in areas where voters could not go to the polls yesterday, but the commission denied a new round within a week, because additional rounds are not foreseen by the Constitution.
The Thai crisis, which began three months ago and since January 13 led to a shut down of Bangkok, enters a new phase, also with heightened uncertainty over the legitimacy of the results of the vote. The government, which appears more optimistic than expected, now prepares to intervene and arrest the protest leaders, under the state of emergency rules, which in the best scenario could cause a further paralysis. The protest front that yesterday organized another mass demonstration in the center of Bangkok, once again showed its strength in the metropolis and announced it will not give any truce to the provisional government.
A 14km march this morning along main roads gave the government a firm message, while today the central gathering points were reduced from seven to five to be less exposed to attacks and repressions that last night left two injured, according to the protest leaders.
The electoral commission could cancel the results and the supreme court may rule on the unconstitutionality of the conditions of the election. If the government should however be authorized to proceed (with the risk that those elected in the chaotic vote do not reach the necessary 95% quorum for the opening of parliament), pending corruption cases regarding populist agricultural initiatives, could lead to convictions that could undermine the credibility of the government. Also the demands by farmers for months of arrears for rice consigned to the government depots, could immediately back the new government up against a wall, due to the impossibility of finding the necessary funds and the impossibility of impeding announced road blockades and march on Bangkok for the promised funds.
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