Thailand's junta leader says elections in November 2017

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand's junta leader says elections in November 2017 
NATNICHA CHUWIRUCH, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's junta leader said Tuesday he will hold elections in November 2017 under a newly approved constitution that ensures the military's control over the next government.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief who took power in a coup in 2014, has said before that he would hold elections in 2017 but had not specified a month.

 

He only said he had a roadmap to democracy under which power would be returned to a civilian government.

 

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, he dismissed a journalist's suggestion that the polls could be postponed to 2018.

 

"Let's count today as Day 1 on the roadmap schedule. If you follow the roadmap it would put us at November 2017 when the whole process is complete. So why would the elections be held in 2018?" he said.

 

Prayuth's comments came two days after the new constitution was approved in a referendum by a clear majority.

 

Critics say the charter was tailor-made for the military to retain control because it provides for an appointed Senate which can choose a non-elected prime minister. Also, many key governing bodies, courts and agencies will remain under the military's influence.

 

The junta also banned most discussion about the constitution before the vote, ensuring that those opposed to it had no way of describing their views to others.

 

The turnout in the referendum was about 55 percent, which meant that only about one-third of the electorate endorsed it, given that it won with a 67 percent majority.

 

A reporter asked Prayuth to comment on those points, which were raised by the international community.

 

"It's their own business. They can say what they want but we are not going to bother with a response because the referendum shows that we used international standards and we have spoken," Prayuth said.

 

He then scolded the reporter who had asked the question, asking if she worked for a foreign organization. Then he muttered, "She doesn't love her own country."

 

He also did not rule out becoming prime minister again if the Senate chooses him. "Why are you asking me? It's not up to me to decide this. Go and ask the political parties," he said.

 

Asked when he would lift a ban on political parties, he said: "When the country is peaceful. When new laws have been drafted in accordance with the new constitution we will see."
 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-8-09

[Winniedapu]

Of course there will be. 

 

Unless something comes up.

 

Winnie

 

The Peter principle is ubiquitous, inevitable and infallible.Everyone rises to their own level of incompetence. Some levels are lower than others of course...

[Raymonddiaz]

he'll never change. Always arrogant and full of himself.

[djjamie]

1 minute ago, djjamie said:

The clear majority has spoken (bigger majority and higher turn out than the 2011 elections) and the elections are forth coming. Nothing unusual here.

 

Kinda echoes the Fiji scenario that the UN chief heralded as a great success of democracy when the popular army chief was voted in democratically. 

 

Looking forward to elections and not the return, but the birth of democracy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2016 by djjamie

[baboon]

So the foreign minister urges governments to express their well wishes to them for adopting the constitution and then his boss slags us off in not so many words.

Sounds about right, I suppose...

Edited August 9, 2016 by baboon

[Gweiloman]

I'm confused

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's junta leader said Tuesday he will hold elections in November 2017 under a newly approved constitution that ensures the military's control over the next government.

 

He only said he had a roadmap to democracy under which power would be returned to a civilian government.

 

Are these two statements complementary?

 

[shirtless]

Its a total circus , everyone believes you Prayut 

[Hawk]

"Then he muttered, "She doesn't love her own country.""

 

No its not the country just the lying government she doesn't like.

[Alive]

Prayut and his regime are endless lies. They wait two days after the vote to change the date? You can't trust a word from their mouths.

Edited August 9, 2016 by Alive

[Chang_paarp]

Is this the same election that was promised in 2015, and again in 2016?

[alocacoc]

1 hour ago, Raymonddiaz said:

he'll never change. Always arrogant and full of himself.

Obviously you don't stay in Thailand.

[candide]

1 hour ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

 

The military are now entrenched in the Thai political system thanks to the new Constitution. They can now oust an elected government without fear of repercussion, unlike previously, when they had to offer themselves amnesty.

 

Thankfully this Constitution probably won't last, as 20 Constitutions since 1934 tells us, they don't tend to stay the distance. The one written in 1997 was probably the best but the military ripped that up in 2006.

 

Any Thai politically savvy commentator can clearly see this isn't going to fix anything medium or long term. 

 

You cannot put the genie back in the bottle when it comes to giving the Thai people a choice,  and once they figure out their choice now means a lot less than it did 15 years ago, there will be consequences, and on and on we go round again.

 

 

Unfortunately,  I am not convinced this constitution won't last a long time. As you mentioned the military are now entrenched in the political system and won't need to change it. Basically the only change they need to do is to extend the 5 years period.

[Thechook]

Will parties be allowed to gather and campaign, will all sides be given media time or will all non Junta members be arrested for political gatherings.  What's the point if political parties can't be more than 4 and the military will still control the government?  

[brucec64]

Bangkok Post just clarified all this. The election process will begin by December 2017. The actual election will be 150 days after that!

 

You just can't script this...

 

[Winniedapu]

34 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

Obviously you don't stay in Thailand.

 

Or he does but doesn't walk around with his eyes closed.

[Thechook]

42 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

Obviously you don't stay in Thailand.

Actually I think he does

[waldroj]

A "... constitution that ensures the military’s control over the next government..."

 

Why bother with elections (and the cost involved), just save the money for a down payment on a submarine!

[Berty100]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief who took power in a coup in 2014, has said before that he would hold elections in 2017 but had not specified a month.

 

Yeah he has also said 2015 and 2016, and probably will say in the future also 2018 and maybe 2019.

[tbthailand]

51 minutes ago, candide said:

Unfortunately,  I am not convinced this constitution won't last a long time. As you mentioned the military are now entrenched in the political system and won't need to change it. Basically the only change they need to do is to extend the 5 years period.

 

I agree with you. Now that this disastrous constitution is in place, it will take a 1992 moment to get rid of it.   

[Denim]

I think Prayuth is getting confused by his own constitution.

 

When he talks of elections he really means selections.

[waldroj]

tbthailand

I agree with your post #22!

 

But instead of this being Day 1, let's call it square 1.

 

The junta's roadmap is now exposed as a game. Unfortunately, for the Thai people, there are more snakes in this game than there are mechanisms to allow them to get closer to their goal of democracy

[metisdead]

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed. Any posts which can be construed as rumor mongering are not allowed.
Posters violating these rules and the forum rules will receive a warning, a possible suspension of posting privileges or a ban from the site.

 

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878797-updated-notice-to-members-posting-in-thailand-news/

 

[poohy]

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

He then scolded the reporter who had asked the question, asking if she worked for a foreign organization. Then he muttered, "She doesn't love her own country."

 

She got more balls than he will ever have!

[Nbarch]

This election in 2017; can we have the result now please.

 

 

[chowny77]

Dear God!! I just hope this will not turn into another Pol Pot situation when the more educated citizens start to ask questions about why he is still holding onto power. Maybe time to move out and find greener pastures!!

[sjaak327]

7 hours ago, djjamie said:

 

You got the first one right, this constitution does not ensure the return to democracy, it certainly doesn't mean the birth of democracy either, in a democracy the army does not control the government elected by a electoral majority. That isn't called democracy.

 

Elections don't matter, so surprised they don't hold them in January, they still have plenty of time to do whatever they want to do, it's not like any elected government has the power to change their precious roadmap.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2016 by sjaak327

[sjaak327]

5 hours ago, candide said:

Unfortunately,  I am not convinced this constitution won't last a long time. As you mentioned the military are now entrenched in the political system and won't need to change it. Basically the only change they need to do is to extend the 5 years period.

Someone in the next government will find a loophole, there is always one to be found, in that case, they will be forced to either do nothing or stage another coup.

[yellowboat]

It looks like the inbred elites will be running things from now onwards.   Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.   Sadly, the average Thai is set for a long struggle to make a comfortable life.

 

 

[LannaGuy]

it's an STD

 

(Semi Thai Democracy) 

[NongKhaiKid]

It's the PM's ball so he gets to set the rules and pick the teams.

There will be more than enough flimsy excuses to justify,   in the junta's mind anyway,    hanging onto power for the good of the country naturally.      There's one major event too that I'm not going to expand on.