Thailand's Cabinet agrees to hold referendum on new Constitution

The Thai Cabinet agreed on Tuesday that a referendum should be held on the new Constitution and the military's blueprint for restoring democracy, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said, a move likely to delay any return to democratic rule. -- PHOTO:BL
The Thai Cabinet agreed on Tuesday that a referendum should be held on the new Constitution and the military's blueprint for restoring democracy, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said, a move likely to delay any return to democratic rule. -- PHOTO:BLOOMBERG  

eBANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai Cabinet agreed on Tuesday that a referendum should be held on the new Constitution and the military's blueprint for restoring democracy, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said, a move likely to delay any return to democratic rule.

"The Cabinet agrees that there should be changes to the current constitution in order to hold a public referendum," said General Prayuth.

The military government, which came to power in a coup last May, had said that a general election will take place in early 2016.

Gen Prayuth said that if a referendum is held, elections would likely be pushed back: "It will take three months to hold a referendum... it could impact the roadmap if we have a referendum."

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