Thailand votes in first elections after 2014 coup

Bangkok: Thailand went to the polls on Sunday to vote in the first general elections after incumbent Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha came to power following a bloodless coup in 2014. About 50 million people, including 7 million young Thais who will be participating in their first ever election, are eligible to cast their ballots to elect 500 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house, for a four-year term, reports Efe news. All 750 representatives from the two houses will vote together to elect the next Prime Minister. Around 90,000 polling stations across the country opened at 8 a.m., and will close at 5 p.m.

The Election Commission announced that preliminary results will start coming in from 9 p.m. onwards. Sunday will be the first time Thais have the chance to vote since Prayuth overthrew the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Both are living in self-imposed exile after being found guilty in absentia of corruption and sentenced to five year prison terms.

The elections are also the first since a new constitution, enacted following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2016, banned large parties and ensured that the military oversees a 20-year national strategy plan, regardless of which party wins the polls. The constitution, approved with the promise of providing stability to the country and preventing a potential stalemate in parliament, gives the military establishment powers to nominate all 250 members of the senate (the upper house) for a five-year term. (IANS)

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