Seven south Thailand constituencies face one horse race
{{date|April 10, 2006}}

Following a phyrrhic victory by the [[w:Thai Rak Thai|Thai Rak Thai]] party, [[w:Thailand|Thailand's]] caretaker Prime Minister [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]] resigned to try to defuse the country's political crisis. It remains unclear what the eventual outcome will be.

In 38 constituencies, Thai Rak Thai (lit. ''Thais love Thais'') stood unopposed and failed to garner support from the required 20% of eligible voters. Seven of those 38 may face the same ballot choice in the upcoming April 23 by-elections, according to the Thai-based English-language newspaper, the [[w:Bangkok Post|Bangkok Post]].  A repeat of the mass abstention that saw TRT resoundingly rejected in the south would leave the lower house of the parliament short of the required 500 seats and, according to the country's constitution, unable to convene and elect a prime minister.  A reading of the constitution reveals that the only likely fallback position would involve intervention from the monarch.

Leaders of the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy), who have spearheaded the campaign to bring down the Prime Minister, may face arrest, according to a report from the Thai News Agency.  Protests organised by the PAD have been peaceful, and no specific charges that may be used against the organisation's leaders are given in the TNA report.

== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Thaksin departure doesn't signal end to Thai political crisis|date=April 5, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thailand's Prime Minister announces resignation|date=April 4, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Third of Thais vote 'none of the above'|date=April 4, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thais head to the polls for snap election|date=April 2, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thousands of Thai protesters prepare to march on Government House|date=March 13, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Opposition may boycott Thai election; demonstrators want Thaksin out|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thai snap-election set for April 2, 2006|date=February 24, 2006}}

== Sources ==
*{{source
|url=http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/News/10Apr2006_news01.php
|title=Still 7 electorates with one candidate
|author=Post Reporters
|pub=Bangkok Post
|date=April 10, 2006}}
*{{source
|url=http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=8056
|title=Authorities to soon issue arrest warrants against PAD leaders
|author=Thai News Agency
|pub=MCOT
|date=April 10, 2006}}

[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:Thaksin Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)]]
Following a phyrrhic victory by the Thai Rak Thai party, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigned to try to defuse the country's political crisis. It remains unclear what the eventual outcome will be.

In 38 constituencies, Thai Rak Thai (lit. Thais love Thais) stood unopposed and failed to garner support from the required 20% of eligible voters. Seven of those 38 may face the same ballot choice in the upcoming April 23 by-elections, according to the Thai-based English-language newspaper, the Bangkok Post.  A repeat of the mass abstention that saw TRT resoundingly rejected in the south would leave the lower house of the parliament short of the required 500 seats and, according to the country's constitution, unable to convene and elect a prime minister.  A reading of the constitution reveals that the only likely fallback position would involve intervention from the monarch.

Leaders of the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy), who have spearheaded the campaign to bring down the Prime Minister, may face arrest, according to a report from the Thai News Agency.  Protests organised by the PAD have been peaceful, and no specific charges that may be used against the organisation's leaders are given in the TNA report.
Thailand Asia Politics and conflicts Elections Thaksin Shinawatra Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)