The Government of Thailand said on 21 December that it will lift the political ban after the bill governing election of members of parliament is promulgated, possibly in June 2018.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on 19 December that he would use Article 44 of the Constitution to allow political parties to take steps to prepare for the 2018 general election. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The announcement came after Thai politicians asked the government for more details after Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on 19 December that he would use Article 44 of the Constitution to allow political parties to take steps to prepare for the 2018 general election.  However, he did not mention completely lifting the ban on political activities.

Government spokesperson Lieutenant General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the ban would be eased for the establishment of new parties and for old parties to register their members.

According to Sansern, this means that for security purposes, all 69 parties in Thailand are not permitted to hold gatherings until June next year and will have to review their membership lists.

The country’s political party law provides that a party must have at least 500 members and 1 million THB, or 30,000 USD, in funding to run in the 2018 polll.

(Source: VNA)