Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on November23 that the country's new government may not be formed by the end of the year2017, despite the fact that the general election will definitely take placenext year.
Over theyear, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeatedly maintainedthat the next election will be held in 2017, following the post-coup road mapfor a return to democracy.
However,Wissanu said “unforeseeable factors” could make it unlikely for a new administrationto be formed within 2017. He added that it would take about two months forofficial election results to be announced after the vote.
After theelection results are announced, there will be a process concerning the openingof Parliament to select a new prime minister, he said.
About thenext year general election, Wissanu said that under the new electoral system,unprecedentedly, a single ballot will be used for both constituency andparty-list MPs.
“Due to the new voting and vote-count systems,the political party with the most votes will not be guaranteed to form thegovernment,” the Thai Deputy PM said.
As required by the new charter of Thailand,10 organic bills must be completed within eight months after the charter ispromulgated, with the key organic bills concerning political parties, theelection of MPs, the appointment of senators and the Election Commission.
According to Wissanu, once the organic lawsare completed, the government will be able to announce a general electionwithin five months.-VNA
VNA
