Thailand to hold election in November 2018: prime minister

[webfact]

Thailand to hold election in November 2018: prime minister

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries in Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian Province Sept. 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/Files

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will hold a general election in November 2018, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday, the most precise date he has given yet for the vote since taking power in a 2014 military coup.

 

Prayuth, head of the ruling junta or National Council for Peace and Order, said the exact election date would be announced in June 2018. The junta has repeatedly delayed elections, citing concerns such as changes to the constitution and security issues.

 

"Around June we will announce the date for the next election," Prayuth told reporters at Bangkok's Government House.

 

"In November we will have an election."

 

(Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-10

 

 

-----------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

Thai junta sets firm date for election after many false starts

By Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will hold a general election in November 2018, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday, the most precise date he has given yet for the vote since taking power in a 2014 military coup.

 

Prayuth, head of the ruling junta, said the exact date would be announced in June 2018. The junta has announced election dates at least two times in the past, only to push them back later, citing concerns such as changes to the constitution and security issues.

 

"Around June we will announce the date for the next election," Prayuth told reporters at Bangkok's Government House.

"In November we will have an election."

 

Former army chief Prayuth, who led the May 2014 coup widely criticized by Western nations, said it was necessary to end a decade of political turbulence and root out corruption.

 

In April, King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed into law a military-backed constitution that kickstarts the process for an election the junta has promised will restore democracy.

 

The new charter provides for a proportional voting system likely to reduce the influence of major political parties, which critics say aims to strengthen the role of the military.

 

Analysts expect political activities to resume slowly after the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej this month ends a year of mourning for a monarch many Thais saw as a father figure.

 

"Prayuth wants to delay the election but he knows that after the king's cremation, there will be pressure for an election," said Kan Yuenyong of the Siam Intelligence Unit think tank.

 

"This announcement for the election in November next year will act to reduce that pressure, because if not, there could be chances for protests," he told Reuters.

 

Thailand's main stock index rose 0.7 percent after the news, having opened Tuesday down 0.3 percent.

 

GOOD FOR COUNTRY

 

The government has faced increasing pressure to lift a ban on political activities levied soon after the coup.

 

Prayuth will consider lifting the ban "at an appropriate time", he told reporters, without giving details.

 

The junta had initially promised an election in 2015, after seizing power from the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Thaksin's governments, or those backed by him, have won every election since 2001, partly because of their overwhelming popularity with politically-powerful rural voters.

 

But the Shinawatras made enemies, including those among the military-backed establishment who accused Thaksin and his allies of corruption.

 

Thaksin was ousted in 2006 and lives abroad in self-imposed exile. Yingluck followed suit in August, when she fled Thailand ahead of the verdict in a criminal case.

 

Some politicians expressed skepticism over the election date.

 

"It isn't really believable, because they have changed it many times," said Chaturon Chaisang, a member of Thaksin's Puea Thai Party.

 

Ong-art Klampaiboon, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, Puea Thai's biggest competitor, welcomed the news.

 

"The election date creates clarity," Ong-art said. "This should be good for the country and the people."

 

(Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um and Suphanida Thakral; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Paul Tait and Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-10

[AGareth2]

unless it is postponed

again

[Thaiwrath]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Moonmoon]

Love ❤= elections in 2018, laugh face ?= no elections in 2018. Vote on this comment now!

[midas]

And you can vote any way you like......................... as long as it's for me

[AGareth2]

doesn't want his new mate Donald accusing him of porkies

[Get Real]

Off course, I believe him! 

[colinneil]

Thailand to hold elections in november 2018

Yeah i used to believe in the tooth fairy.

[Reigntax]

Prayuth has announced a date only to take the pressure off him. Have no doubt it will change when the date gets nearer. One thing you can guarantee is that when Prayuth opens his mouth bullshit is being expelled.

[kkerry]

Shame Ladbroke's aren't in Thailand, otherwise I'd be having a lazy 100k on this being delayed again. With a year to go I'm sure something will conveniently occur to cause another postponement.

[webfact]

Thai Elections In November 2018, Prayuth Promises

By Khaosod English

 

  

Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks to reporters Tuesday at Government House.

 

BANGKOK — The leader of the ruling junta announced Tuesday afternoon that general elections will be held in November 2018.

 

Speaking after his weekly cabinet meeting, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said he will announce the specific date in June.

 

Full story:  http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/10/10/thai-elections-november-2018-prayuth-promises/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-10-10

[Get Real]

5 minutes ago, kkerry said:

Shame Ladbroke's aren't in Thailand, otherwise I'd be having a lazy 100k on this being delayed again. With a year to go I'm sure something will conveniently occur to cause another postponement.

Yeah, you wish! Ladbrokes are far to experienced in the game. They would only give 1,03 to you. Ain´t worth the big surprise if it would happen. 

[Thailand]

No doubt there will be elections in Nov 2018, and no doubt the result will be in no doubt. 

[webfact]

National poll to be held in November next year : PM

By The Nation

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

The national election will be held in November 2018, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday.

The government will announce about the election date in June next year and the election will be held in November the same year, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30328954

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-10

[Shoeless Joe]

IF there is an election, what party will Prayuth represent (or join)? I don't see him relinquishing his current job easily (or willingly).

 

Regards,

 

Joe

[LannaGuy]

 

[Ricardo]

Good news  ...  so long as there is no further slippage ! 

[Chang_paarp]

I wonder where the bomb will go off to cause a delay of the election? Or assassination attempt. Or ....

[PatOngo]

I do hope he has allowed enough time for the "organic laws" to be dreamt up and passed!

[webfact]

Breaking News : Election will be held in November next year, says Prayut

 

Photo : Prayut

 

The national election will be held in November 2018, Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha said on Tuesday.

Election will be held in November next year, said Prayut.

 

The government will make the announcement of the actual election date in June next year and the election will be held in November, he said.

 

He was speaking after chairing a meeting of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

The NCPO meeting acknowledged the organic law on political parties, which introduces the primary voting system and goes into effect on Sunday.

 

The premier added that as the organic law on political parties is in place, some political restrictions such as political gathering and activities imposed by the NCPO after the coup, will be relaxed at the appropriate time.

 

The law has 11 sections covering 152 articles and is the third of the 10 organic laws that have received royal endorsement so far.

 

The first two were the laws concerning the Election Commission and criminal procedures against political office holders.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30328957

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-10

[Media1]

49 minutes ago, Reigntax said:

Prayuth has announced a date only to take the pressure off him. Have no doubt it will change when the date gets nearer. One thing you can guarantee is that when Prayuth opens his mouth bullshit is being expelled.

Yes and destruction 

[smutcakes]

All it will take is a 'threat' here or a 'threat' there for unidentified 'persons' and everything will have to be postpone in the interest of national security!

[champers]

Seems like he has had a phone call from Washington. His campaign has kicked off with the new bespectacled look.

[ratcatcher]

                           Election will be held in November next year, says Prayut 

                                                           

                                                                                                                                      "You sure 'bout that Mr Prayuth?"

[Eric Loh]

All needed to creat an incident and election will be delayed. They are good at that. 

[Thaiwrath]

[binjalin]

This man has no ethics and, more worryingly, thinks he's the saviour of Thailand.

[baboon]

57 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

All it will take is a 'threat' here or a 'threat' there for unidentified 'persons' and everything will have to be postpone in the interest of national security!

There isn't really any need to go to the bother of inventing an excuse. Just tell the public that there won't be elections and any impression that there would be was a misunderstanding by the said public.

 

All just words. Easily withdrawn. 

[tropo]

1 hour ago, Moonmoon said:

Love ❤= elections in 2018, laugh face ?= no elections in 2018. Vote on this comment now!

This will give him years of breathing room. He announced in August 2016 that elections will be held in late 2017, postponed to late 2018. Going by a similar pattern, an excuse in late 2018 postponing them again followed by an official announcement in late 2019 that elections will be held in early 2021.

[leeneeds]

It is true