The election was invalidated by the Constitutional Court on Friday, and the chairman of the Election Commission stated that it would take several months before a new vote could take place. This has left Yingluck in charge of a weakened caretaker government with limited authority. The ongoing crisis is the most recent development in an eight-year conflict between Bangkok's middle class and royalist establishment on one side, and supporters of Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra on the other. Thaksin, who was removed as prime minister by the military in 2006, now lives in Dubai to avoid serving a prison sentence for abuse of power. Despite being relatively calm for months, Thaksin's "red shirts" supporters are now becoming more vocal under new aggressive leaders, calling for a major gathering on April 5. Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, informed supporters that the destination for their upcoming event, which may be Bangkok or elsewhere, will be disclosed at a later time. Jatuporn was involved in organizing a "red-shirts" uprising against a previous government in 2010, which resulted in a violent military crackdown and the deaths of over 90 people. He still faces terrorism charges related to the 2010 violence. In the current political crisis, 23 individuals have died and over 700 have been injured since November. Addressing a crowd of around 10,000 individuals in Pattaya, located to the southeast of Bangkok, Nisit Sintuprai issued a caution to Suthep Thaugsuban, the former opposition figure leading protests against Yingluck since November. Nisit emphasized that the primary motivation for their actions is to convey to Suthep the desire of the majority in the country for democracy and government via elections. He expressed opposition to a prime minister appointed by Suthep's supporters. Suthep's People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is advocating for unspecified changes to the electoral system before any election, with the aim of reducing Thaksin's influence and his significant support among the rural population in the northern and northeastern regions. Political parties associated with or led by Thaksin have emerged victorious in every election since 2001, and it is widely anticipated that Yingluck's Puea Thai Party would win any election conducted under the existing framework. There is a looming threat of impeachment for Prime Minister Yingluck as Suthep's supporters disrupted the February 2 election, leading to voting being prevented in 28 constituencies. The Constitutional Court deemed the election illegal due to voting not being held nationwide on the same day. The Election Commission will meet on Monday to decide on the next steps, with reluctance to hold a new election due to the political climate. Yingluck's caretaker government may not be able to continue much longer, with the immediate risk being impeachment over the failed rice-buying scheme. This plan boosted Yingluck's popularity in the 2011 election, but this year, thousands of farmers, who are typically strong supporters of Thaksin, have protested in Bangkok due to not being paid for their rice. Yingluck is facing accusations of corruption and may face impeachment soon. If she is removed from office, the Senate, which is expected to have an anti-Thaksin majority after an upcoming election, may appoint a more neutral prime minister. Some experts believe that certain agencies are working to remove Yingluck and her cabinet in order to create a power vacuum and install a preferred prime minister. He mentioned that if the government goes ahead with their plan, their supporters will retaliate and the second half of the year will be worse than the first half. The economy is being damaged by violence, as shown by recent incidents such as grenade explosions and car bombings in Bangkok and Chiang Mai province. One of the targets was Boon Rawd Brewery, known for producing Singha beer. A family member who is part of the ownership group has been actively participating in PDRC rallies. Due to consumer confidence being at a 12-year low, the central bank has lowered its economic growth forecast for 2014 from 3 percent to 2.7 percent. In October of last year, before the protests escalated, the forecast was 4.8 percent. The stock market showed minimal movement following Friday's court ruling. Some stock analysts view the cancellation of the election as a potentially beneficial development, as they believe it could encourage negotiations between political rivals. The rating agency Standard and Poor's had a contrasting opinion. According to Agost Benard, the associate director of sovereign ratings, the Thai court's decision is likely to prolong and potentially escalate political risks, further diminishing the chances of a prompt resolution to Thailand's political divide.