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The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections scheduled for October 2006 and promised new elections within 12 months. The Constitutional Tribunal then outlawed the Thai Rak Thai party, the largest political party in Thailand, and banned TRT executives from contesting in the elections for five years. After their political party had been dissolved, the former TRT members regrouped under the band of People's Power Party (PPP) led by Samak Sundaravej, the seasoned politician. Following its formation, the junta issued a classified order to suppress the activities of the PPP and to frame it for lèse majesté. The order was leaked to the public, leading to a complaint towards the Election Commission from the PPP. However, the Election Commission dismissed the complaint on the grounds that the Council for National Security (CNS) had granted itself immunity in the 2007 Constitution of Thailand. The junta deployed 200,000 soldiers and police officers to maintain security and 1,500 officers to supervise after election fraud. Charnchai Silapauaychai, a popular former Democrat Party member from Phrae who switched to the PPP for the 2008 election, was assassinated. Five men, one of them cousin of a powerful Democrat Party MP were arrested, but all denied involvement.〔IHT, (Thailand to deploy 200,000 police and soldiers for post-coup elections ), 17 December 2007〕 Despite being the junta's target for suppression, the PPP managed to win 233 out of 480 parliamentary seats, close to controlling the majority in the House of Representatives. The Democrat Party came in a distant second with 165 seats, Chart Thai 37, For the Motherland 24, Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana 9, the Neutral Democratic Party 7, and Pracharat 5. == Competing political parties == Some of the political parties contesting in this election, covering 157 constituencies and 80 party-list seats, are: * People's Power Party (Phak Palang Prachachon) led by Samak Sundaravej. * Democrat Party (Phak Prachatipat) led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. * Thai Nation Party (Phak Chart Thai) led by Banharn Silpa-Archa. * For the Motherland (Phak Pua Paendin) led by Suwit Khunkitti. * Thais United National Development Party (Phak Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana) led by Chettha Thanajaro. * Neutral Democratic Party (Phak Matchima Thippathai) led by Prachai Leophai-ratana. * Royalist People's Party (Phak Pracha Raj) led by Sanoh Thienthong. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Thai general election, 2007」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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