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BANGKOK - Thailand lifted a ban Wednesday on forming new political parties, but it remains unclear whether ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's party can regroup in time to contest polls expected by year's end.
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA), appointed by military leaders who toppled Thaksin in a coup last year, overwhelmingly adopted a bill revoking the military's ban on new parties, lawmaker Gothom Arya said.
Thai Rak Thai (TRT), the twice-elected party formed by Thaksin and led by him until his ouster, was dissolved in May after a court ruled that it had violated election laws.
Under the new law approved Wednesday, some members of the disbanded TRT would be able to form a new party, but they would struggle to do so in time to prepare for elections promised by the end of the year.
"Thai Rak Thai can file an application with the Election Commission to register under the same name, but the EC will take months to consider its application," said NLA member Prapan Khoonmee.
Political analysts have questioned the legitimacy of polls in which the still-popular TRT would be unable to run. They say that the military is determined to wipe all trace of Thaksin and his party from the political landscape.
The wealthy businessman, who has lived abroad since his ouster, was in May banned from politics for five years along with 110 other senior TRT members.
The bill allowing new parties to register will be submitted for the king's endorsement, and will officially become law when it is published in the royal gazette. - CNA /ls
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