May 27, 2008
Bangkok - The Election Commission (EC) will meet on May 28 to gear up to issue the new act to enable the referendum holding, believing the process will be completed on May 30.
Apichart Sukhakkhanont, chairman of the Election Commission, said the EC would first meet tomorrow to push for the referendum act, expecting the process would end on May 30 as there were not many articles to consider.
The EC will then propose the act to the parliament.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej revealed the cabinet already approve referendum holding.
The government can either wait for the Council of State to decide whether the 1998 referendum act is still effective, or let the Election Commission (EC) to issue a new act.
Samak expressed concern that issuing the royal enactment would not be a successful choice as some parties might hold it back.
He claimed the EC promised him to finish the process before the extraordinary parliamentary session on June 9.
If not, the government will include the issue of referendum act in the ordinary parliamentary session on August 19.
