Thai Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Wissanu Krea-ngam is confident that the next election will be ready in February 2016.

A Thai man casts his vote on February 2

Wissanu said that the government is now in the second phase of its roadmap to re-establish democracy, with a projection that the charter drafting process will be completed by September 2015.

After the new charter is drafted, it will take a few more months for the drafting of organic laws and at least another two months to prepare for the election, he added.

When asked if a public referendum will be needed for the draft charter, Wissanu said that such a decision will be up to the National Council for Peace and Order.

In case a public referendum is recommended, the National Legislative Assembly will likely need three months to carry out the procedure. As a result, the general election will take place in May 2016 instead.

(Source: VNA)