Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam expects the next general election to be announced in January 2016 as election-related laws can be prepared in advance.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam expects an election to be announced next January.
Mr Wissanu told reporters at Government House on Thursday that although there would be about 100 organic laws, only a few would be needed for the election. He referred to the election law, the political party law and the Election Commission law which, he said, would cover the formation of a new election administration committee.
"I understand that the three laws are necessary. If there is a referendum (on the new constitution), there must be another law for the referendum. Without a referendum, the law will be unnecessary. So some 3-4 such laws will be essential for the election," the deputy prime minister said.
Other organic laws could wait for the next House, including legislation on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the ombudsmen, state auditing, an election court and the trials of the Constitutional Court, Mr Wissanu said.
He said the first draft of the new constitution will be completed in April and simultaneously drafters will be formulating the organic bills relating to elections as per Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's instructions so that after the constitution is promulgated in September, the organic laws can be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly right away, in either October or November.
Royal approval for the laws is likely in December, so the next election can be announced in January, Mr Wissanu said.