Elections in Thailand: alcohol and social media ban
Tomorrow is the most important day of the year Thailand, the more than 32 million Thai voters will then determine who will govern Thailand for the next four years.
Elections in Thailand are no sinecure. For example, an alcohol ban has already been announced and no less than 170.000 police officers monitor the orderly course of this day.
Twitter ban
It is illegal to campaign on election day. This also applies to social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and email. Violators are arrested and can be sentenced to six months in prison.
Polls
The main opposition Puea Thai Party enjoys a clear lead in the polls over current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's party. The Puea Thai Party is led by Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The 44-year-old businesswoman is way ahead and is extremely popular with the population in the rural north and northeast of Thailand. An area where her brother Thaksin still has many supporters, even five years after he was overthrown in a coup.
The Democratic Party calls Yingluck a political nitwit controlled by Thaksin, aiming to return from exile. With this he would like to avoid a prison sentence of two years for corruption
Al Jazeera's Aela Callan, reported from Khon Kaen in northern Thailand.