bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Thailand’s junta said elections are unlikely to take place before June 2017 in the latest delay to the restoration of democracy since the military seized power last year.
The kingdom’s generals had initially promised to return power to civilians within 18 months of their May 2014 putsch as they set about rewriting the country’s constitution.
That date was further pushed back to early 2016 and then scuppered entirely earlier this month when a military appointed council rejected the junta’s own draft constitution.
At a briefing for foreign diplomats in Bangkok on yesterday Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the process of drafting a new constitution was expected to take 20 months.
“The total number is 20. Hopefully in June 2017 we will have the general election. And not long, one month after that, we will have the new elected government,” he said.

If the new election date is met, General Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s junta will have spent more time in power than any other military government in Thailand since 1969.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Prayut had asked his appointees to try and speed up the new charter drafting process.
“The prime minister doesn’t want to stay on longer, he even asked for the shortening of the whole process,” he said.
The army seized power from an elected government in May last year, promising to calm the country after years of street protests and acrimony by political rivals.
The junta has said a new charter - Thailand’s 20th since it abandoned absolute monarchy in 1932 - holds the key to bridging those divides before democratic elections can be restored, provisionally in mid-late 2016.
The political instability comes at a time of growing concern over the health of the revered but frail 87-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In recent weeks the palace has taken the unusual step of regularly updating the Thai public on the state of the King’s health as he battled a lung infection and high fever.


Return to democracy in Thailand delayed again as junta eyes elections in mid-2017

The ever-shifting timeframe for Thailand’s return to democracy after a May 2014 coup has been delayed a year.  Photo: AFP

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has portrayed himself as a reluctant leader who intervened amid street protests and political paralysis to prevent a descent into chaos. Photo: Xinhua


‘Don’t oppose me’: Thai Junta leader warns critics will be prosecuted

Army chief-turned-premier Prayuth Chan-o-cha is known for mercurial outbursts. Photo: EPA

Thai PM says chooses new cabinet, sends to king for approval

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks to reporters. Photo: AP

Democracy on hold: Thailand’s army-backed council rejects charter, delays polls

A Bangkok City officer takes a photo of a statue with mock ballots voting No to the draft military backed constitution in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre during a rally against the military-backed constitution in Bangkok. Photo: EPA

Thailand elections likely to be delayed until 2016, say military leaders

Prime Minister Prayuth has outlined a year of reforms that are partly aimed at ending the political influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Photo: Xinhua

Prime Minister Prayuth has outlined a year of reforms that are partly aimed at ending the political influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Photo: AFP

News

Asia

Southeast Asia