Prayut rejects elections campaigns in current environment, leaving door open to delay
While not ruling out a postponement of the general election until next year, after a member of the National Legislative Assembly raised doubts about the issue, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said on January 4 the current atmosphere was not suitable for election campaigns. “As you know, campaigns can be frustrating, so when should they really be held? If campaigning starts today, they [politicians] will only be scolding each other,” the premier said after a Cabinet meeting. “Everybody first has to understand the steps provided under the [junta’s] road map.” The charter, organic laws and procedures on preparing for elections must first be put in place before candidates are selected and conducting campaigns, he said. Prayut added that if the new constitution and organic laws somehow failed to go into effect in line with the road-map timetable, then it would simply mean that things could not be completed as stated in the road map.
