BANGKOK, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's political parties will have "plenty of time" from December to run electoral campaigns nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Wednesday.
The deputy premier referred to the "unlocking" of all political restrictions to the extent that all political parties are able to launch nationwide campaigns for the next race to parliament, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24, 2019.
Last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that he would "unlock" some, and not all, of the political restrictions "shortly."
Wissanu assured that all parties with intent to contest the polls will be given "plenty of time" to set policies and campaign, after a 90-day interval following an approval to organic laws on the election of MPs and the naming of senators by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the promulgation of the laws in the Royal Gazette.
The Thai monarch's approval or disapproval to the organic laws is expected sooner or later this month, so that Prayut would subsequently lift some of the political restrictions.
According to Wissanu, the parties will likely be free to campaign from December until mid-February.
"Political parties will certainly have plenty of time to set policies and run electoral campaigns, given a period of over 70 days as of December," said Wissanu.
Prayut is largely expected to exercise his executive power under Section 44 of the interim constitution to lift some of the political restrictions, imposed by the ruling military council.
Prayut earlier said he will make it known to the public his own political future after he has lifted some of the restrictions. It remains to be seen whether or not he will join a certain party and contest the polls.
