Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on May 1 reassured that the general election will be definitely held in early 2019. The statement was made amid the anti-junta activists’ warning to stage a large-scale demonstration in May.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister PrayutChan-ocha on May 1 reassured that the general election will be definitely heldin early 2019. The statement was made amid the anti-junta activists’ warning tostage a large-scale demonstration in May.
It was not the first time the chief of the Thai militarygovernment promised that the election would take place no later than February 2019.The PM said the election has been postponed several times due to legal processand the international community would understand it.
Opposing groups have urged the government to hold thegeneral election this year. Hundreds of people have flocked to the streets toprotest Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and his government for the vote’sdelay, most of whom were from a group called the Democracy Restoration Group(DRG). The demonstrations have been strictly monitored by security forces and anti-riotpolice.
In late April, the DRG said that they would launch a largerand longer demonstration to call for the termination of the National Councilfor Peace and Order (NCPO), headed by Prayut Chan-ocha. The rally is scheduledbefore May 22, which will mark the fourth anniversary of the coup overthrowingthe government of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thailand currently has 69 political parties. After thecoup in May 2014, all political activities have been banned in the country. Theban is expected to be lifted in June when all new political parties areestablished. Political activities will only be fully allowed after the organicbill on the election of Members of Parliament becomes law.-VNA
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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
