Bangkok (VNA) – A general election in Thailand scheduled to takeplace in November will be delayed possibly until early 2019 after the NationalLegislative Assembly (NLA) on January 25 passed an organic law on parliamentaryelections with a delay of enforcement.

The NLA, which acts as the parliament in the military government, adopted the organiclaw with 196 votes favouring the law, while 12 members voted against and 14abstained. The key point is the 90-day delay of enforcement, which will pushback the election promised by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

According to the Constitution, the election must be held within 150 days of theorganic laws entering enforcement.

With the last bill expected to pass by June, an election before the end ofNovember would have required the laws to go into effect immediately or a dayafter publication in the Royal Gazette, as in previous practice. Adding thedelay, however, means that the 150-day window would start in August orSeptember and extend into early 2019.

The delay of enforcement follows the military government’s order in December,2017 establishing periods for political parties to conduct administrativeactivities like member registration and the election of party executives.However, the junta has not yet allowed parties to hold meetings despite callsto lift a ban on political activities.

Last year, the PM said he would announce in June 2018 the date for the generalelection expected in November.-VNA