Latest on Thailand's long-awaited elections.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha recently suggested the general election would be held only after the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, after earlier saying it would occur by February 2019 at the latest. The ban imposed by the military-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on political activities remains in place, but the Constitutional Court has cleared the organic laws governing political parties and MPs. The Pheu Thai Party (PTP) faces the prospect of losing members to the new pro-military Phalang Pracharat party.
Pressures surrounding the poll will not affect the government’s spending plans.
Prayut will likely engage in negotiations with veteran politicians and provincial clans to canvass support ahead of the elections.
Despite improvement in EU-Thailand ties, full normalisation will only happen under a civilian government.
