May calls for 'free elections' in Thailand

May calls for 'free elections' in Thailand

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha met British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street. (Photo courtesy Government House)
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha met British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street. (Photo courtesy Government House)

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May called for "free and open elections" in Thailand as she met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha in London on Wednesday.

During their sit-down, Gen Prayut assured May that Thailand would hold a general election early next year.

Gen Prayut, a former army chief who seized power from the civilian government in a 2014 coup, will next meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday as part of a highly publicised European tour.

"The Prime Minister urged continued progress towards free and open elections in Thailand in line with international standards, including restrictions on political parties being lifted at an early stage," her spokesperson said after the meeting.

While the prime ministers talked, the foreign ministers had their own meeting.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "delighted to host Thai Foreign Minister Don" Pramudwinai.

He included a photo of the pair eating tamarind that Mr Don had brought as a gift.

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