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After a six-year wait, Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has officially set December 20 for the elections of chairmen and members of provincial administration organisations (PAO) in 76 provinces nationwide outside Bangkok.

New cabinet members of Thailand led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha have been sworn in before King Maha Vajiralongkorn on July 16.

Thailand’s junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha on July 9 ordered an end to military rule before his new civilian government is sworn in.

The Thai King will convene the first parliament meeting on May 22, according to the Royal Gazette on May 14.

Over 10,000 Thai individuals have been verified as candidates running as parliamentary hopefuls in the March 24 election, Thai media reported on February 19.

A royal decree on Thailand’s general election was issued on January 23, which will be followed by an announcement of the election date.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed on January 2 that the road map for general elections remain unchanged, dismissing suggestions that the junta will postpone the poll in light of the King’s coronation ceremony.

Thailand’s Government has reaffirmed that there will be no more delays to the general election, with the date for the poll remaining for February 24, 2019.

The National Council for Peace and Order has agreed to partially lift the ban on political activities, with an official announcement to be issued shortly, NCPO deputy chief Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn.

A majority of people say Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has performed well as Prime Minister of Thailand during the past four years, according to the result of an opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has affirmed that the election date will be between February 24-May 5 next year, and that the ban on political activities will be relaxed soon.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on May 1 reassured that the general election will be definitely held in early 2019. The statement was made amid the anti-junta activists’ warning to stage a large-scale demonstration in May.

Political parties in Thailand on April 17 expressed concerns over the membership verification process for their members, which could not be completed by the end of this month, as required, due to too many public holidays.

Major political parties in Thailand on April 1 began the process of reconfirming their memberships and resumed official contact with their members for the first time since the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued a ban on political activity following the coup d'état in May 2014.

The ban on political activities, which has been imposed in Thailand since the coup d’état in May 2014, will be lifted in June, said Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that if a “lack of order” continues, there is no guarantee that the national election would be held peacefully.

Thai pro-democracy demonstrators gathered at Bangkok’s Thammasat University on March 24, demanding the Government and NCPO to run a general election in November 2018 as promised last year.

Registration for new political parties in Thailand began on March 2 with the Election Commission (EC) noting that 34 groups turned up to register.

Thailand’s general election must be carried out based on regulations and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s decrees, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on February 27.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) of Thailand will allow local government elections, but Thai politicians running for office must observe certain conditions.