Thailand’s Constitutional Court has delayed a decision on postponing the country’s general election as protesters continue to demand that the government step down. The Election Commission says the country is too volatile to hold a general election now, while the government argues that the decree to hold the election on Feb. 2 has been signed by the king and cannot be changed. “The Constitutional Court has accepted this case and we will look at the legal issues involved. If there is enough evidence, we may hand down a decision tomorrow,” Pimol Thampithakpong, court spokesman, said on Thursday.
The delay comes after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared late on Tuesday a 60-day state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas, hoping to prevent an escalation in anti-government protests.
Protesters have threatened to disrupt the election while the opposition Democrat Party, closely aligned with the protesters, has said it will boycott the polls.
Suthep Thaugsuban, a protest leader and a former Democrat minister, has called for a “people’s council” to push through electoral and political changes.
Full Article: Court defers ruling on Thailand election date – Asia-Pacific – Al Jazeera English.