Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reaffirmed his commitment to dissolve the House within four months after presenting his government’s policy and expects the next general election to take place in early April next year.
Speaking at a news conference after the first meeting of his Cabinet, Anutin said he has asked House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha to schedule a House meeting on September 28-30 to present the policy.
He said his government will also keep its commitment to hold a national referendum that would lead to drafting of a new constitution with public participation.
He said the referendum will be held on the same day as the next election.
Anutin said he expects to have the House dissolved in January. “The general election will then be held either in late March or early April next year,” he said.
Anutin said his government’s policy will give priorities to addressing the economic problems, focusing on bringing down the cost of living through cheaper transportation and energy prices as well as the co-payment programme.
On the border dispute with Cambodia, he said his government will use both military and diplomatic measures to protect the country’s sovereignty and Thai people’s interest.
His government will improve the early warning system to better deal with natural disasters and ensure that affected people will get timely help and be promptly and properly compensated.
The government will also give top priority to cracking down on drug trafficking, gambling and scam centres.
Anutin also stressed that his government will not seek to legalize casinos or on-line gambling.
