Thailand will hold a general election in 2017, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday, seeking to allay concerns his military government might delay plans for a return to democracy, days after the country endorsed a military-backed constitution.
Sunday's referendum was seen as the biggest test yet of public opinion on the rule of Prayuth, who seized power in a May 2014 coup he said was aimed at ending years of political turmoil in the Southeast Asian nation.
Under the junta's "roadmap" to restore democratic rule, Prayuth has previously said a general election will be held in 2017. A democratically elected government will take power at the earliest in 2017, a senior official said on Monday.