Thai opposition seeks to annul election and disband ruling party
Democrat Party turns to the courts in attempt to declare elections void and demand dissolution of ruling party as the United States warns against military intervention
Thailand’s opposition planned on Tuesday to demand the annulment of last weekend’s election and the dissolution of the ruling party, in a legal offensive that threatens to intensify the kingdom’s political chaos.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called Sunday’s snap election in a bid to defuse mass rallies that have dogged her government for three months, sparked deadly violence in Bangkok and thrust the kingdom into further political turmoil.
Watch: Thai protesters vow no let up after disrupting poll
The latest legal move by the opposition, which planned to file a legal challenge to the polls in the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, came as the United States warned against any moves to stage a military coup, in the most outspoken remarks yet by a major ally.
“We certainly do not want to see a coup or violence,” US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said after opposition protesters prevented voting at thousands of polling stations on Sunday, prompting election authorities to withhold results until ballots are cast in all constituencies.