Thai Junta head says election will be held in 2017

By CS Thana

BANGKOK - (AA) - 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 Tuesday that the vote would take place in 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 has said a general election would be held in 2017.

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