- Title: Thai PM downplays doubts about election in 2017
- Date: 4th January 2017
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (JANUARY 4, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** THAI PRIME MINISTER PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA WALKING TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI PRIME MINISTER, PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA, SAYING: "Everyone needs to understand what procedures are underlying the roadmap, meaning that there must be a Constitution first, then the laws under it needs to be passed. There is a time frame for those things. If we there's too many laws to pass, we may not finish it in time, if we finish it early, means we'll be on time." PRAYUTH SPEAKING AT NEWS BRIEFING JOURNALISTS SITTING AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI PRIME MINISTER PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA, SAYING: "In terms of the roadmap, things are going according to the political schedule to which I did not alter any of the procedures. You mustn't heed what anyone else says, to speed up the election while laws (needed to hold elections) have not passed." PRAYUTH LEAVING EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE
- Embargoed: 19th January 2017 08:57
- Keywords: Thailand politics Prayuth 2017 elections
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XO0BWL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday (January 4) downplayed doubts that a general election may be delayed until 2018, following concerns raised by a member of the national legislative assembly.
A member of the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly said on Monday (January 2) that the election, which will restore civilian rule following a 2014 coup, would have to be delayed until 2018 to allow time to pass laws needed to hold it.
Seeking to calm fears his military government might delay plans to restore democracy, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha dismissed talk among some politicians and legislators that the vote will be delayed.
"In terms of the roadmap, things are going according to the political schedule to which I did not alter any of the procedures. You mustn't heed what anyone else says, to speed up the election while laws (needed to hold elections) have not passed," Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Some Western governments and international human rights groups have pressed Thailand for a swift return to democratic rule following the 2014 coup which the army said was necessary after months of sometimes deadly street demonstrations.
Protests in Bangkok in late 2013 and the first half of 2014 eventually led to the military's ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government.
The next step in the military government's transition back to civilian rule is for new King Maha Vajiralongkorn to endorse a constitution which was approved in a referendum last year.
The king has until next month to approve the charter.
Critics have warned that the new charter will stifle democracy by entrenching military rule for years to come. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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