Thai PM Prayuth paves way for first election since 2014 coup, allowing political parties to rally members
The restrictions were first put in place after a military coup in 2014 that removed the government of Yingluck Shinawatra
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday he would use a special order that gives the military sweeping powers to allow political parties to prepare for a 2018 general election.
Major political parties had urged the government for months to lift a ban on all political activity to allow parties to prepare for the vote.
“The government will have to use Article 44 to solve this problem [political activity deadlock],” Prayuth told reporters, referring to a constitutional clause that grants the military absolute powers.
Government spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prayuth would allow parties to take some steps outlined in the new constitution, including ensuring they have at least 500 members to qualify them to run in the November 2018 poll.
According to the usual procedure, executive orders must be published in the Royal Gazette before they can become law.