Thailand elections announced for 2015

Thailand’s military leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha has announced that new elections will only take place after October 2015.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha made the announcement in a speech that an interim constitution would be adopted next month.

A temporary cabinet would then govern until elections next year.

The military seized power on May 22, saying it wanted to return stability to Thailand after months of political and social unrest.

Since then, Thailand has been run by a military junta called the National Council for Peace and Order. It insists it is a neutral player among the country’s rival political factions.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup, said any new election would have to take place under a new constitution, which would be drafted by an appointed body.

“We want to see an election that will take place under the new constitution… that will be free and fair, so that it can become a solid foundation for a complete Thai democracy,” he said in a televised address.

“Today, if we go ahead and hold a general election, it will lead to a situation that creates conflict and the country will return to the old cycle of conflict, violence, corruption by influential groups in politics, terrorism and the use of war weapons” he added.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha also denied reports that the coup was planned in advance with anti-government protest leaders.

“I did not join any process or take part with any side”, he said.

The denial came after reports that protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said that he had discussed overthrowing the government with Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha many times in recent years.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and the army took over two weeks after PM Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from her role by a controversial court ruling.