Thailand determined to hold general election in 2017
Thailand will hold a general election in 2017 even if a draft constitution does not pass a referendum this year, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha announced on January 26.
Speaking to the press, the PM said that no matter whether the draft constitution passes the referendum or not, the government will hold the election in 2017.
A government-appointed committee is expected to unveil a draft of the constitution on January 29.
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| Thai PM Prayut Chan-ocha |
In May 2014, a coup ended months of political protests in Bangkok and the military abolished the previous constitution.
The military government had previously said that a draft constitution needed to be in place before an election could take place and that getting the constitution approved in a referendum was a key part of the government "road map to democracy".
