A total of 42 political groups applied for registration as political parties on the first day of the registration at the Election Commission head office on Friday (March 2).
The atmosphere was lively with some of the groups spent an overnight at the EC office on Thursday in order to get the first place for registration.
EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said that the EC would take about a month to check all the related documents before approving their applications for registration.
Commissioner Somchai Srisuttiyakorn said although there was not a timeframe for the application for registration, parties that want to contest the next election must apply for registration within March so that they would be able to start political activity in April simultaneously with the old parties.
One political group applied to register under the name of Palang Pracharath party, triggering media’s curiosity of possible link with the military government as the party’s name is similar to the military government’s Pracharath people-state partnership scheme.
However, some of its founding members maintained that they didn’t have military officers as their core members.
The first day saw both old policians and new faces show up to apply for registration of their political groups.
The old faces included Mr Samphan Lertnuwat who applied for the registration of Palang Ponlamuang (Citizen’s Power) party.
Among the new political faces were Mongkolkit Suksintharanon and Natchapol Supattana who said that they didn’t have any objection if the next prime minister would be Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
One group applied to register Thang Luak Mai (Alternative) party although it was yet to be confirmed whether the Nitirat group would join the party or not.
Another group came up with a more controversial name, Hen Kae Tua (Selfish) party, but EC official said such name might not get approval under the law.
EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen
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