BANGKOK, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's general election will probably be further delayed from next February until next May, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Election Commission Chairman Supachai Somcharoen and Wissanu met with representatives of dozens of political parties on Monday at the Army Club to discuss the possible date for the nationwide election.
Wissanu suggested that the tentative date for the election might probably be delayed until next May instead of next February as widely speculated.
On several occasions, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged to hold the election next February.
Nevertheless, the deputy premier told attendees in Monday's meeting that it might take 11 months from now until the election is held.
That, he said, may be viewed as a 3-3-5 formula, which means the 11-month time can be divided into three phases -- three months, three months and five months.
Earlier this month, the Prayut government forwarded the constitution's organic law governing the election of MPs to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for final approval.
The monarch is constitutionally given 90 days time to return the law, either in approval or disapproval to it.
According to the constitution, the organic law on the election of MPs will not be effective until after 90 days since it is approved by the monarch.
The Election Commission is subsequently obliged to hold the election within 150 days under the organic law.