Thailand’s election is expected on May 7, according to PM

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday that he would dissolve parliament next month in preparation for an election on May 7, a probable date originally set by the country’s poll commission.

The former army leader, who has been in power since leading a coup in 2014, said the election commission required till the end of this month to settle on a timetable, while the parliamentary dissolution in March would give candidates enough time to prepare.

When asked whether the election will be held on May 7, Prayuth said, “Yes, why not?”

Thailand is already campaigning for an election that may upend the status quo after almost nine years of governance led or controlled by the military and its royalist supporters.

Opinion surveys show Prayuth, 68, behind political newcomer Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, the daughter and niece of two previous prime ministers elected in landslides but deposed by the army.

Paetongtarn will represent the opposition Pheu Thai, the current version of the rich Shinawatra family’s party, which has won every election since 2001.

Prayuth, who heads a 17-party coalition government, has joined the new United Thai Nation party (UTN), while his military mentor and deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, will continue to represent the incumbent Palang Pracharat party.

Anucha Burapachaisri, the government’s spokeswoman, outlined an approximate timeframe for an election in early May, with results expected in early July.

According to Auncha, the new legislature will pick a prime minister by the end of July and appoint their cabinet in early August, with Prayuth’s administration acting as caretaker in the meantime.