Bangkok: Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday a general election will take place in the Southeast Asian country in April or May 2016 - but could be delayed by three months if a referendum takes place.
Thailand`s cabinet agreed this week that a referendum should be held on the new constitution and the military`s blueprint for restoring democracy, a move likely to delay any return to democratic rule.
"I said it should be around beginning of the year, April or May, but if we have to do a referendum it should be pushed back by around three months," Prayuth told reporters.
Prayuth`s comment comes on the first anniversary of the coup that saw the military take power from an elected government.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Tuesday the election would take place in August 2016 at the earliest to allow for the referendum.
