World

Thai PM reiterates holding election in early 2019

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha reiterated on May 22 that the general election will take place in early 2019 and no sooner, rejecting the possibility of an earlier election as requested by the opposition party.
Thai PM reiterates holding election in early 2019 ảnh 1Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister PrayuthChan-ocha reiterated on May 22 that the general election will take place inearly 2019 and no sooner, rejecting the possibility of an earlier election asrequested by the opposition party.

He made the statement when hundreds of protesters weregathering in Bangkok to demand the vote to be held in November.

About 200 protestors took to the streets in the capitalcity in a march held by the opposition party to mark the fourth anniversary ofa coup in 2014 that toppled then PrimeMinister Yingluck Shinawatra and led to the establishment of a junta government. 

Theyplanned to march from Thammasat University to the Government House early in theday but were blocked by rows of police.

OnMay 21, Thai police declared Bangkok’s Government House and surrounding streetsa no-go zone for the planned opposition march and warned the protesters not todefy the junta ban on public gatherings. The police expected around 1,000protesters to gather on May 22.

Themilitary government initially promised to hold a general election in 2015 buthas pushed back the date several times.

Thai PrimeMinister Prayut Chan-ocha on May 1 reassured that the general election will bedefinitely held in early 2019. The statement was made amid the anti-juntaactivists’ warning to stage a large-scale demonstration in May.

It was not the first time the chief of the Thai military government promisedthat the election would take place no later than February 2019. The PM said theelection has been postponed several times due to legal process and theinternational community would understand it.-VNA
VNA
#Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha #Thailand's general election #Thai military government #anti-junta activists #Yingluck Shinawatra #junta government #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency Thailand
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Thailand selects Election Commission candidates

Thailand selects Election Commission candidates

Thailand Election Commission (EC)’s selection committee has chosen five candidates for the EC who will be ratified by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) before the new EC debuts this July, the Thai media reported on May 4.

See more

Indonesia steps up local currency use to reduce reliance on USD

Indonesia steps up local currency use to reduce reliance on USD

According to the Indonesian government data, total LCT transaction value reached 8.45 billion USD in January and February, a sharp increase from 3.21 billion USD in the same period last year. User participation has also risen significantly, surpassing 14,600 by February, with monthly averages exceeding 16,000, well above 2025 levels.

SMEs are the backbone of the Malaysian economy. (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia rolls out low-interest financing package for SMEs

The latest funding forms part of the government’s broader PowerUp10K campaign, a year-long initiative aimed at strengthening SMEs at different stages of growth. Under the programme, the ministry is targeting total disbursements of up to 15 billion MYR in low-cost financing, higher than the previously allocated 10 billion MYR.

Illustrative photo (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia strengthens palm oil industry through sustainability certification

Indonesia’s palm oil industry is a major pillar of the national economy, with more than 16 million hectares under cultivation and crude palm oil (CPO) output reaching 51.66 million tonnes in 2025. This scale has helped the country maintain its position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of palm oil.

Mount Semeru in East Java erupts on April 14, 2026. (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia maintains high alert as Mount Semeru continues erupting

According to the Semeru Volcano Observation Agency, the first eruption occurred at 5:22 am, registering a maximum seismic amplitude of 20 mm and lasting 3 minutes and 23 seconds. The eruption produced an ash column rising about 1,500 m above the crater, reaching approximately 5,176 m above sea level.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (centre) and his spouse are welcomed at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 14. (Photo: VNA)

Chinese newspaper expects new chapter in building Vietnam-China community with shared future

From the traditional friendship of "both comrades and brothers" to the contemporary positioning of "the community with a shared future that carries strategic significance," Vietnam-China relations are standing at a new historical starting point, with expectations of opening a new chapter that delivers tangible benefits to both peoples and contributes positively to regional and global development.

Malaysia strengthens national energy supply mix

Malaysia strengthens national energy supply mix

The Malaysian government will intensify efforts to strengthen the national energy mix to ensure electricity supply security amid extreme weather changes, which are beginning to affect existing resources, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Illustrative image (Photo: Thai PBS)

Thai capital introduces recycling initiative

Thailand's Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is introducing a sustainable twist to this year’s Songkran festivities by inviting revellers to donate their used or unwanted plastic squirt guns for recycling.

Thailand warns public of online scams during Songkran festival

Thailand warns public of online scams during Songkran festival

It identified four major scam tactics now spreading widely, which involve fake accommodation and travel ticket bookings, hacked social media accounts being used to ask for money, fake links offering cash giveaways or discounts, and fake pages selling festival-related products.

A Petronas filling station in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia tightens controls on border-town fuel stations

Deputy KPDN Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the government is currently reviewing existing policies to further restrict fuel purchases in high-risk zones, acknowledging that current limits have not completely stopped the leakages.

Thailand's Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas (Photo: Royal Thai Government)

Thailand implements emergency relief package to protect economy

The Thai Government has allocated more than 7.74 billion THB (about 241 million USD) from the central budget to support citizens in coping with rising energy prices, subsidise transport costs, and implement measures to reduce the cost of living nationwide.

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) welcomes Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in Hanoi in April 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s visit highlights strategic importance of bilateral ties: Chinese newspaper

The newspaper noted that To Lam announced his visit to China just two days after being elected State President of Vietnam. Earlier, in August 2024, shortly after assuming the position of Party General Secretary, he also chose China as the destination for his first overseas trip. That both of his first state visits in his new roles have been to China is a clear indication of the strategic nature and elevated importance of China–Vietnam relations.