PM Prayut confirms early 2019 election in talks with Lord Fowler
PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed in a meeting with Lord Fowler, the Speaker of the British House of Lords, that election will definitely be held early next year as has previously slated, INN News reported today (June 22, 2018).
He added that the time-frame depends on the law and counting towards setting the election date would also be done accordingly.
The earliest an election could be held would be February 2019 and even though the law allows for a leeway, Gen Prayut said he would do his best.
In January the year, the enforcement of a bill governing the election of MPs was postponed by the National Legislative Assembly for 90 days, which potentially delays elections until February-March 2019. The bill is one of four needed to hold a general election. The constitution mandates that elections be held within 150 days after all necessary electoral laws take effect. Delayed enforcement of any of the laws pushes back the election.
Prime Minister Prayut’s discussions with Lord Fowler focused on long-term relations between the 2 countries, especially where trade and investment is concerned.
With UK now leaving the European Union and launching Global Britain policy, while Thailand has its Thailand 4.0 policy, there is a clear synergy that can lead to cooperation, Gen Prayut said,
Although there is already the Thai-UK Business Leadership Council which was established at a time when Thailand faced problems about democracy, it has been working throughout, he pointed out.
Such councils need to be supported so that in future, particularly after the election, it would be possible to move forward quickly, he added.
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Top: Prime Minister Prayut together with Lord Fowler and other members of the House of Lords. Photo: INN News
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