Thailand’s military junta may at last be ready to call an election
Its plans to rig it are nearly all in place
SEPTEMBER will sizzle with political intrigue in Thailand. The prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has announced that his military government will shortly begin discussions with political parties about restoring democracy. Every year since his junta came to power in a coup in 2014, it has promised—and failed—to hold an election. This time it may actually keep its word. The tentative date is February 24th. Mr Prayuth has also said that he will declare in the coming month whether he intends to remain in politics, and if so which party he will join. This is in spite of the fact that he previously insisted that he would neither support any particular political tribe nor run for office himself.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Dotting their i’s”
Asia September 1st 2018
- It has the world’s best schools, but Singapore wants better
- Australia’s new prime minister tries to end divisions in his party
- The UN accuses the Burmese army of genocide
- Thailand’s military junta may at last be ready to call an election
- India’s government turns down disaster relief
- For a different take on “Crazy Rich Asians”, cross the Pacific
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