Because of the ban, political parties are unable to begin making arrangements proscribed by law for the election due to be held late next year. Parties may first opt to request that the Election Commission (EC) prolong the preparation period, he said. The organic law on political parties was enacted last month, so the countdown to the election has officially begun. Under the law, political parties are required, for instance, to make adjustments such as updating registration records and report them to the registrar of the EC within 90 days. It was not a problem and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assured everyone that he would not let it hurt the political parties’ rights, Wissanu said.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 15, 2017 09:00 UTC