Thailand ‘s military government said on June 30 it has begun an
overhaul of the electoral system following an announcement by junta
leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha that polls could take place in October
2015.
According to Permanent Secretary for Defence
Surasak Kanchanarat, political party reform, decentralisation of power
and “investigations and penalties for those groups that commit electoral
fraud” top the military government’s agenda.
The Election Commission was expected to talk about obstacles to an election and corruption later on June 30, he said.
Earlier,
in his televised speech on June 30, General Prayuth Chan-ocha said that
his government will issue a temporary charter in July and an official
charter one year later.
Once the temporary charter is
issued, an interim cabinet will be installed by September and a reform
council will then start work on October, he said, adding that the
general election will be organised three months after the official
charter makes debut.
The military took power on May 22
in a bloodless coup following six months of street demonstrations that
contributed to the ousting of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. A
court had already ordered her to step down after finding her guilty of
abuse of power on May 7.-VNA