Thailand’s general elections are scheduled to take place on July 3, with seats in both the house and the senate up for grabs.
Violence is now a perennial concern in Thai politics. The Bangkok Post is reporting that election officials have boosted security measures but cannot discount the possibility of trouble. The timing at least is favourable — the vote was originally proposed for mid-November, just before the country’s peak tourist season, but the new date at least pushes the elections into the sticky heat of the low season.
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26%Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s prime minister, had hoped that calling an election would help resolve some of the country’s differences, but that seems unlikely after the main opposition For Thais Party nominated the sister of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its candidate.
Yingluck Shinawatra has served as president at some of the family businesses, such as SC Asset Corp and Advanced Info Service, and is actively campaigning on the fact that she is her brother’s proxy. “Thaksin Thinks, For Thais Acts”, goes the slogan. She promises to bring her brother back.
With a Shinawatra on the ticket, passions are bound to run high and Thailand’s long-held political division — between poor rural voters and rich urbanites — looks set to deepen.
