Skip to main contentAccess keys helpA-Z index
BBC Learning English Launch BBC Media Player
  • Help
  • Text only
 
You are in:Learning English > News English > Words in the News
 
Learning English - Words in the News
 
08 May, 2006 - Published 10:28 GMT
 
Thai election annulled
 
Thai election

The Constitutional Court in Thailand has voted to annul last month's general election, according to one of the judges on the panel, after considering complaints about a number of irregularities. This report from Jonathan Head:

Listen to the story

After five weeks of political paralysis, Thailand finally has a way out of the stalemate left by last month's general election. The Constitutional Court, a senior panel of judges often accused of siding with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has voted to annul his third election victory, according to one of the judges on the panel.

The irregularities the judges considered to justify the decision were relatively minor. The intervention by Thailand's revered monarch two weeks ago is more likely to have influenced their verdict. The King described the situation as a mess and, more significantly, described any parliament with no opposition presence as undemocratic.

The path ahead now though is still not clear. The opposition parties do not want Mr Thaksin to run again for prime minister but he is considered a key vote winner for his party, Thai Rak Thai, which retains the support of most rural voters.

The opposition parties are also demanding constitutional reforms to strengthen the checks on the prime minister's power, although they haven't specified what changes they expect or how quickly or easily these could be agreed.

Jonathan Head, BBC News, Bangkok

Listen to the words

paralysis
a state of complete powerlessness, not being able to do anything

stalemate
deadlock (neither side able to move forward)

siding with
supporting

to annul
to declare invalid or void

irregularities
actions or situations which are against a rule

intervention
interference, mediation

revered
deeply respected

a mess
a state of confusion or trouble

path ahead
way forward

retains the support of
is still backed up by, or popular with

 
 
SEARCH IN LEARNING ENGLISH
 
 
 
LATEST STORIES
08 December, 2009
Copenhagen summit opens
07 December, 2009
US-Russia nuclear agreement close
02 December, 2009
Catching loneliness from the lonely
30 November, 2009
New guidelines for fighting HIV
30 November, 2009
Dubai dream turns sour
 
Other Stories