May 3 (Bloomberg) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed holding an election on November 14 if all parties agree to a reconciliation process, a move aimed at ending eight weeks of deadly street protests that have paralyzed Bangkok.
“If we start from today and all parties are involved, I am confident that it won’t be long that we can reconcile and bring peace and normalcy back to our society,” he said today in a 30- minute nationally televised address. “And the government will be ready to hold an election and let the people decide.”His five-step plan includes safeguarding the monarchy, addressing economic inequality, establishing an independent body to monitor media outlets, investigating political violence and assessing ways to change the constitution, he said. Abhisit had rejected an April 23 proposal by his opponents to dissolve parliament in 30 days.
The offer could ease political tensions after opponents of Abhisit’s government occupied streets and clashed with troops to pressure him into calling an election. The country’s worst political violence in 18 years, which claimed 27 lives last month, may reduce 2010 economic growth by two percentage points, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said April 30.
“We can’t accept or reject this yet,” Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the protesters said in comments broadcast on Thai PBS television network. “It’s just a proposal.” "
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