Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: Xinhua)
Thailand’s ruling junta on September 14 partially eased its ban on political activities, paving the way for the general election scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019.
Under the decision, which was announced by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, political parties are now permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members.
However, election campaigning, including holding public gatherings, is still forbidden.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said election campaigning would be allowed after a law on the election is issued, possibly in December.
After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities. This included a ban on any public gatherings of more than five people.
VNA
