Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Photo: VNA)Bangkok(VNA) – A royal decree on Thailand’s general election was issued on January 23,which will be followed by an announcement of the election date.
The decree,published in the Royal Gazette, called for a general election of members ofparliament and gives the kingdom’s Election Commission five days to announcewhen it will hold the highly anticipated poll.
The same day,Thai media quoted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that he will joina party which supports the current administration’s policies.
Earlier, the pro-governmentparty Phalang Pracharath (PPRP) said that General Prayut Chan-o-cha is one ofthe party’s leading PM candidates at parliament after the election. However, theThai PM said that the PPRP has yet to offer him an invitation to join it.
The election date iswidely expected to fall on March 24, marking a one-month delay from the previouslyscheduled date of February 24.
According to theplan announced by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreagram in November 2018, theelection is scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019 with 350 constituencies,while its results are to be made public two months later. On April 27, a listof 250 elected parliament members will be submitted to the royal family forapproval. On May 8, the new parliament will begin operations and select its Speakersof the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the new PM.
After the 2014 coup,the National Council for Peace and Order of Thailand has attempted to decide adate for a general election multiple times, but it has been continuouslydelayed for reasons related to the Constitution and legislation issues.–VNA
VNA
