BANGKOK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's long-awaited election might be held one month later than scheduled, the country's deputy prime minister said.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam told reporters on Thursday that a royal decree for the nationwide election of MPs would be issued next week, adding that the race to parliament might probably be held on March. 24.
The election has been earlier tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24.
The Election Commission is legally obliged to announce the election date within five days after the royal decree is promulgated in the Royal Gazette.
There was concerns over the possibility of the election process overlapping with the coronation ceremonies for King Maha Vajiralongkorn, scheduled for May. 4-6.
The Thai monarch is constitutionally obliged to preside over an opening session of a post-election parliament within 15 days after official results of the election are announced to the public.
If the election is held on March. 24, the opening of the new parliament by the monarch might probably follow the coronation ceremonies, given the possibility that it might take the Election Commission more than 30 days to finish counting the votes before announcing the official results, according to the deputy prime minister.
The polling agency has a maximum of 60 days to do the job, according to the constitution's organic law pertaining to the election.
Wissanu said it is entirely up to the election commissioners to decide when the election will be held.
The polling agency is scheduled to organize the election within 150 days after the organic law pertaining to the election was promulgated, meaning the latest possible date for the election is May. 9, he said.
He added that this will by no means refer to any timeline for the counting of votes or the announcing of the official results.
