Thai elections to take place in October 2015, says junta leader
Thai coup leader announces interim constitution to come into effect in July with general elections planned to take place in October next year
Thailand’s military junta will install an interim constitution next month, and elections will be held around October next year, its leader announced on Friday.
Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a coup last month, said the temporary constitution will allow an interim legislature and cabinet to begin governing the country in September. He said an appointed reform council and constitution drafting committee would then work on a long-term charter to take effect July next year.
Prayuth said in televised speech that a general election would be held around three months after the adoption of the constitution. He made no mention of a public referendum on the new charter, as was held in 2007 after an earlier coup against an elected government.
The army seized power May 22 in a bloodless coup, overthrowing a government elected by a majority of voters three years ago. Prayuth has said the coup was necessary to restore order after six months of anti-government protests and political turmoil that left at least 28 people dead and the government paralysed.
“I truly hope that the EU and the US will understand the situation the same way the majority of Thais do.”
But since taking power, the army appears to be carrying on the fight of the anti-government protesters by mapping out a similar agenda to rewrite the constitution and institute political reforms before elections. It has quashed most dissent, threatening or arresting critics of the coup.
Prayuth said the national reform council will consider political, economic, social, environmental, judicial and other matters and give its recommendations to the constitution drafting committee.