Thai military’s grip on power won’t ease any time soon
Pavin Chachavalpongpun says the latest postponement of a long-promised general election underlines the junta’s fear of the Shinawatra family’s lingering influence, at a time when the new king is still settling in
Last week, Thailand’s junta-appointed legislature voted to delay the implementation of an election law that would effectively postpone the general election to 2019. This is the fourth time the generals have broken their promise to return power to the voters.
If investors’ confidence is shaken, it might threaten the Thai economy and the position of the military government. But, for the Thai junta, current political uncertainties may threaten its long-term political interests.
Therefore, the military relies mostly on its delaying tactic, which also gives the junta room to manoeuvre, to continue battling a perceived threat from the Shinawatra faction.
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