Thai junta again postpones elections

By Arun Saronchai

BANGKOK (AA) - Thailand's military government has again postponed scheduled elections, a government spokesman telling reporters Monday that they will likely be delayed another year due to the drafting of election laws.

"It is more likely that elections will occur in March or April of 2018," Matichon newspaper reported Somjet Boonthanom, a member of the military appointed legislative body, as saying Monday.

Although the junta has regularly expressed commitment to a “roadmap” for restoring democracy, the date has been pushed back every year since its May 2014 coup.

Boonthanom blamed the latest delay on the need for another 15 months to write necessary legislation.

The government of junta chief-cum-prime minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha overthrew the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014.

Politicians from both sides have told Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity that they would accept a delay to election because of the timing of the Royal cremation ceremony of recently passed King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

"There are some royal prerogatives like the cremation and coronation of King Rama X which would clash with the election campaign," said one former MP.

"If this is the case we can accept a short postponement of elections."

King Maha Vajiralongkorn recently ascended to the Thai throne following the October death of his father.