Interesting Times Ahead

Thai election campaign under way

It is the first election since Gen Sonthi led last year's military coup
Official campaigning is under way in Thailand for the country's first general election since last year's military coup.
Eighteen parties began registering candidates for the polls, which are due to take place on 23 December.

The two main blocs are the Democrat Party and the People's Power Party, newly formed by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Neither party is expected to win an outright poll majority, analysts say.

Thailand's military seized power from twice-elected Mr Thaksin in September last year, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

A military-backed interim government has been in power ever since and martial law remains in place in a third of the country. The elections will return the country to civilian rule.

Coalition likely

Mr Thaksin has been living in exile mainly in the UK, where he owns Manchester City Football Club.


Thaksin was ousted from power in a coup last year

But support for him in Thailand remains strong, particularly in poor rural areas which benefited from populist policies such as cheaper health care.

His Thai Rak Thai party was dissolved by a military-backed tribunal earlier this year and many of his party's lawmakers banned from politics.

But his allies have regrouped to form the People's Power Party (PPP).

Leader Samak Sundaravej said he expected the PPP to win more than 200 seats in the 480-seat lower house and bring Mr Thaksin back "with full honour" - something resolutely opposed by the military.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said his party was "getting a good response from people nationwide".

"The Democrat Party is giving priority to the wellbeing of the people, regaining economic confidence and resolving the problem of southern Thailand, while the People's Power Party gives priority to bringing back the previous regime," he said.

Several smaller parties are also contesting the election, with a weak coalition government seen as a likely outcome.





news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7082284.stm