The election was canceled by the Constitutional Court on Friday, and the head of the Election Commission stated that it would take months before a new vote could be organized. This leaves 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 army in 2006, currently resides in Dubai to avoid imprisonment for abuse of power. Despite showing restraint for several months, Thaksin's supporters, known as the "red shirts," are now becoming more aggressive under new hardline leadership. A call has been made for a major gathering on April 5. Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the "red-shirts" United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, informed supporters late on Saturday that the destination, whether it be Bangkok or elsewhere, will be revealed at a later time. Jatuporn was involved in organizing the "red-shirts" uprising against a previous government, which resulted in a violent military crackdown in May 2010, causing over 90 deaths. Jatuporn is still facing terrorism charges from the events of 2010. In the current political turmoil, 23 people have died and over 700 have been injured since November. Addressing approximately 10,000 individuals in Pattaya, located to the southeast of Bangkok, Nisit Sintuprai issued a caution to Suthep Thaugsuban, the former opposition figure who has been leading demonstrations against Yingluck since November. Sintuprai emphasized the desire of the majority in the country for democracy and governance through elections, stating that they cannot accept a prime minister appointed by Suthep's supporters. The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by Suthep is advocating for electoral changes that would decrease the influence of Thaksin and his strong backing from the rural population in the north and northeast. Parties affiliated with Thaksin have emerged victorious in every election since 2001, and it is widely predicted that Yingluck's Puea Thai Party would win any upcoming election under the current system. IMPEACHMENT IS POSSIBLE FOR PM YINGLUCK AS SUPPORTERS DISRUPT ELECTION
Suthep's supporters caused disruptions during the February 2 election, leading to voting being prevented in 28 constituencies. The Constitutional Court recently declared the ballot illegal due to the requirement for voting to take place nationwide on the same day. The Election Commission will convene on Monday to determine the next steps, though there had been reluctance to hold the February election amidst the political turmoil. Talks between opposing factions may be sought before setting a new polling date. The future of Yingluck's caretaker government is uncertain, with the immediate threat being impeachment over alleged negligence regarding a failed rice-buying scheme that has resulted in significant financial losses. 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 because they have not received payment for their rice. Yingluck is facing scrutiny from an anti-corruption commission and could potentially be impeached soon after. If she is impeached, the Senate, which is expected to have an anti-Thaksin majority after an election on March 30, could remove her from office. Some experts believe that the Senate may then appoint a "neutral" prime minister, likely a figure favored by the anti-government demonstrators. Analysts suggest that independent agencies are pushing for Yingluck's removal and the dissolution of her entire cabinet in order to create a power vacuum and install a prime minister of their choosing. Kan Yuenyong, an analyst at the Siam Intelligence Unit, highlighted the courts and the anti-corruption commission as the key players in this process. He warned that if the government proceeds with their plan, their supporters will retaliate, leading to a more turbulent second half of the year. The economy is at risk due to the violence, with recent incidents including grenades near a judge's home, a car bomb near a protest camp in Bangkok, and explosive devices in Chiang Mai province. One of the targets was the Boon Rawd Brewery, known for producing Singha beer. One of the family members who owns it has been actively participating in PDRC rallies. Consumer confidence is currently very low, with the central bank recently lowering its economic growth forecast for 2014 to 2.7 percent from 3 percent. This is a significant decrease from the 4.8 percent forecast made in October last year, before the protests began. The stock market showed little reaction to Friday's court decision. Some stock analysts view the cancellation of the election as a positive development, as they believe it will encourage negotiations between political adversaries. Standard and Poor's rating agency expressed a contrasting opinion, stating that the Thai court's decision will likely prolong and potentially escalate the country's political divide, aligning with their anticipation of long-lasting political risks. Agost Benard, the associate director of sovereign ratings, made this statement.