Thailand's Junta Leader Says Elections In November 2017

Bangkok: Thailand's junta leader says he will hold elections in November 2017, under a newly approved constitution that will ensure the military's control over the next government.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief who took power in a coup in 2014, has insisted before that he will hold elections in 2017 but until now had not given a specific month.

Speaking to reporters today, he dismissed a journalist's suggestion that the polls could be postponed to 2018.

Following the junta's so-called road map to democracy "would put us on November 2017 when the whole process would be complete. So why would the elections be held in 2018?" he said.