Thai Junta head says election will be held in 2017

By Max Constant

BANGKOK

Thailand's prime minister has put an end to speculation that a general election could be delayed to early 2018, telling reporters Tuesday that it would go ahead next year as planned.

Prayuth Chan-ocha assured that the vote would take place November 2017, after a cabinet meeting to discuss the unofficial results of a charter referendum on a new constitution that the military government won Sunday and preparations for the election.

"Please have confidence in the roadmap. I've never said otherwise," Chan-ocha said.

"Why would elections be postponed to 2018? Our roadmap states that with the constitution passed, the process should be complete by November 2017," he said.

Under the “roadmap” the prime minister had said a general election would be held in 2017.

Chan-ocha dismissed earlier comments made by the head of the junta-appointed constitution drafting committee, Meechai Ruchuphan, who said Monday that technicalities could see the election pushed back to 2018.

“There could be some procedures that are beyond our control, so it is alright to allow additional time,” said Ruchuphan. “But I would like it to be held next year and the prime minister has insisted he would not stay on longer.”

On Sunday, 62 percent of those who cast their ballot approved a draft charter that Ruchupan’s committee spent eight months to write.

Chan-ocha saluted the results Sunday evening by saying it was a “show of force by the people to determine the country’s future”.

Deputy-Prime Minister-cum-Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan adopted a less triumphant tone, saying Monday that the results “should not be seen as a triumph for the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO, the official name of the junta],” and that it only “shows the will of the people as a whole” who “may see that the country is at peace now and can live normally”.

The draft charter had been criticized by student activists, academics and politicians from all sides because of its authoritarian features.

Among others, a clause sets up a 250-member senate fully appointed by the junta, with six seats reserved for the armed forces and police chiefs with a five-year mandate.

The senate will be allowed to vote in a joint session with the 500-member elected lower house – which has a four year mandate – to select the prime minister.

Another clause opens the possibility for an “outsider”, i.e. a non-elected person -- for instance a retired bureaucrat or a retired military officer -- to be chosen as prime minister.