Thailand finally to hold elections on March 24
Thailand will hold a general election on March 24, 2019 for the first time since the latest military coup in May 2014. The date was set by the Election Commission in Bangkok on January 23, shortly after a royal decree authorising the poll was issued .
Earlier plans to hold an election on February 24 were set aside after the government raised concerns that it may clash with some of the royal ceremonies for the coronation of the King.
The coronation, Thailand’s first since 1950, will be held from May 4 to 6.
Voting will take place under a military-backed Constitution, ending one of the longest periods of rule by a junta in Thailand’s modern history. However, this new Constitution enacted in 2017 allows the current premier, former army head Prayuth Chan-ocha, to return to power if he gets enough support from the new parliament, even if he does not contest in the election.
He has hinted at tying up with a political party to seek a return as premier, but he has yet to clearly declare his intentions.
Additional rules for the forthcoming election make it also very difficult for any big opposition party to win a ruling majority. Instead, analysts expect the future government to be formed by a coalition.
Political parties such as Palang Pracharath, Pheu Thai, Democrats, Future Forward and Thai Raksa Chart, which had been campaigning in a low-key mode over the past weeks to comply with election rules, declared they are now ready to go full steam ahead.
Thailand will hold a general election on March 24, 2019 for the first time since the latest military coup in May 2014. The date was set by the Election Commission in Bangkok on January 23, shortly after a royal decree authorising the poll was issued . Earlier plans to hold an election on February 24 were set aside after the government raised concerns that it may clash with some of the royal ceremonies for the coronation of the King. The coronation, Thailand’s first since 1950, will be held from May 4 to 6. Voting will take place under a military-backed...
Thailand will hold a general election on March 24, 2019 for the first time since the latest military coup in May 2014. The date was set by the Election Commission in Bangkok on January 23, shortly after a royal decree authorising the poll was issued .
Earlier plans to hold an election on February 24 were set aside after the government raised concerns that it may clash with some of the royal ceremonies for the coronation of the King.
The coronation, Thailand’s first since 1950, will be held from May 4 to 6.
Voting will take place under a military-backed Constitution, ending one of the longest periods of rule by a junta in Thailand’s modern history. However, this new Constitution enacted in 2017 allows the current premier, former army head Prayuth Chan-ocha, to return to power if he gets enough support from the new parliament, even if he does not contest in the election.
He has hinted at tying up with a political party to seek a return as premier, but he has yet to clearly declare his intentions.
Additional rules for the forthcoming election make it also very difficult for any big opposition party to win a ruling majority. Instead, analysts expect the future government to be formed by a coalition.
Political parties such as Palang Pracharath, Pheu Thai, Democrats, Future Forward and Thai Raksa Chart, which had been campaigning in a low-key mode over the past weeks to comply with election rules, declared they are now ready to go full steam ahead.
