Thailand may not form new government in 2017

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Over the year, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeatedly maintained that the next election will be held in 2017, following the post-coup road map for a return to democracy. 

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

However, Wissanu said “unforeseeable factors” could make it unlikely for a new administration to be formed within 2017. He added that it would take about two months for official election results to be announced after the vote. 

After the election results are announced, there will be a process concerning the opening of Parliament to select a new prime minister, he said.     

About the next year general election, Wissanu said that under the new electoral system, unprecedentedly, a single ballot will be used for both constituency and party-list MPs.   

“Due to the new voting and vote-count systems, the political party with the most votes will not be guaranteed to form the government,” the Thai Deputy PM said.  

As required by the new charter of Thailand, 10 organic bills must be completed within eight months after the charter is promulgated, with the key organic bills concerning political parties, the election of MPs, the appointment of senators and the Election Commission.

According to Wissanu, once the organic laws are completed, the government will be able to announce a general election within five months.