BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has decided not to join any political party ahead of a general election early next year.
Asked by reporters at the Government House whether he was joining a party, given Monday as the deadline for him to enroll himself as a member of one party in order to contest for an MP seat in the nationwide election, tentatively scheduled for February 24, the premier only suggested them to look into the law.
All contestants for MPs are legally obliged to enroll themselves into a specific political party for no less than 90 days ahead of the election date, thus they must do so before November 26.
But anyone including Prayut may be eligibly named by a certain party as a candidate for the head of a post-election government without the needs for him to enroll himself as a member of that party, according to the organic law of the 2017 constitution governing the election.
Each contestant party may eligibly name a maximum of three candidates for premier, with the first name being the most favorite.
In an alleged bid for Prayut to prolong his rule following the election, the Palang Pracharath (power of people of state) Party, led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, will very likely name Prayut as its top candidate for premier.
Nevertheless, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam earlier commented that Prayut will not be legally allowed to help the Palang Pracharath Party with its electoral campaigns anywhere though he may continue to run the country as head of the caretaker government, pending the setting up of a post-election government.
Meanwhile, Prayut, who concurrently heads the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, is scheduled on December 7 to hold talks with various political parties about the electoral campaigns in regards to the election law as well as public peace and order.
Government spokesman Phutthipong Punnakan said the National Council for Peace and Order will not lift all restrictions to political activities to the extent that they be able to woo votes from constituents nationwide until the royal decree for the election has been promulgated some time next month.
