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| Southeast Asia |
| Abhisit likely to delay polls |
| 2010-06-02 |
| [Straits Times] AFTER weeks fighting for his political life, Thailand's Prime Minister has surprised many by surviving mass street protests and is likely to put off elections for as long as possible, experts said. Few think the crisis, which has driven a wedge into Thai society and left 89 people dead, is over. But Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva has managed to cling to power, thanks to the backing of the army. 'I certainly felt that Abhisit wouldn't survive this crisis but he's surprised a lot of people,' said Thailand expert Andrew Walker, a senior fellow at the Australian National University. The Premier has shelved his offer of November elections, and analysts believe he may try to fend off pressure from the opposition to go to the polls until his term expires at the end of next year. 'Abhisit is obviously concerned that he would lose an election and he'll delay it for as long as he can,' said Dr Walker. The 'red shirts' were campaigning for immediate elections, denouncing a government they view as undemocratic. |
| Posted by:Fred |