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Thai court rules general election invalid | Thai court rules general election invalid |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled the 2 February general election invalid, officials say. | Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled the 2 February general election invalid, officials say. |
The snap poll was called by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra amid major anti-government protests in Bangkok. | The snap poll was called by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra amid major anti-government protests in Bangkok. |
The ruling party was expected to win, but the opposition boycotted it and protesters disrupted voting, meaning the election has not been completed. | The ruling party was expected to win, but the opposition boycotted it and protesters disrupted voting, meaning the election has not been completed. |
The vote was unconstitutional because it did not take place on the same day across the country, the court said. | The vote was unconstitutional because it did not take place on the same day across the country, the court said. |
Polls were not held in a number of constituencies because protesters had blocked candidate registration. | Polls were not held in a number of constituencies because protesters had blocked candidate registration. |
The court, which ruled to void the election by six votes to three, was responding to a motion by a law lecturer who had challenged the election on a number of points. | The court, which ruled to void the election by six votes to three, was responding to a motion by a law lecturer who had challenged the election on a number of points. |
It is not clear when a new election will be held. | It is not clear when a new election will be held. |
But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a deputy prime minister when the opposition were in power, said another election would face similar problems. | |
"If a new election date is declared, then we'll take care of every province and the election won't be successful again," he said late on Thursday. | |
Thailand has been hit by anti-government protests since November 2013. | Thailand has been hit by anti-government protests since November 2013. |
The protesters, who are mainly urban and middle class, want Ms Yingluck's government replaced by an unelected "people's council". | The protesters, who are mainly urban and middle class, want Ms Yingluck's government replaced by an unelected "people's council". |
They allege her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, controls her administration and say Shinawatra family money has corrupted Thai politics. | They allege her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, controls her administration and say Shinawatra family money has corrupted Thai politics. |
Ms Yingluck and her ruling Pheu Thai party remain very popular in rural areas, however, leaving Thailand deeply polarised. | Ms Yingluck and her ruling Pheu Thai party remain very popular in rural areas, however, leaving Thailand deeply polarised. |
The South East Asian nation has been embroiled in a cycle of political unrest since the military removed Mr Thaksin from office in a 2006 coup. | The South East Asian nation has been embroiled in a cycle of political unrest since the military removed Mr Thaksin from office in a 2006 coup. |