Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted today there is no justification for the general election to take place before February next year.

Speaking to reporters after the mobile Cabinet meeting in Chumphorn, the prime minister effectively endorsed earlier statements by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and the Election Commission that February 24, 2019 will be the earliest date on which the election could be held.

“We stand by the February schedule. But if that cannot be done, let’s see how we will proceed,” Gen Prayut said.

Apparently referring to calls by pro-democracy group and politicians for the election to be held earlier, Gen Prayut said he sees no justification for the election to be moved forward.

Constitutionally, the time frame for the election will be between February and May next year. Gen Prayut has been under pressure to commit himself to a specific time frame for the election.

The prime minister also shrugged off a tweeter message from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.   In a tweet directed at Gen Prayut on Monday, Ms Yingluck reminded him of who she was.   Her tweeter message was in response to Gen Prayut’s meeting with a woman who happens to have the same name as her during his inspection tour of Ranong on Monday.   Prayut teased the woman by saying that her name sounded auspicious as a person by the same name was once a prime  minister.