Uncertainty about the election date and when exactly political restrictions will be lifted to allow parties to engage fully in political activities will be cleared up at a meeting scheduled for December 7 between political parties and the so-called “Five Rivers” that include the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said this morning that he personally believes that the December-7 meeting will provide a clear picture about the lifting of political restrictions.

However, he admitted that he didn’t know whether there would be a joint statement coming out of the meeting, saying that it would be up to NCPO.

Then so-called  “Five Rivers” are made up of the NCPO, the Cabinet, the National Legislative Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee and the Election Commission.

The regular meeting of the NCPO and the Cabinet has been moved forward to today from Tuesday because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be on a visit Germany on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The prime minister, meanwhile, brushed aside a question posed by a reporter on when or whether he would join a party today. If the election is to be held on February 24 as widely speculated, potential candidates will need to formally register as members of political parties by today.

“Go and take a look at the law,” he snapped, without elaborating.

Later on after meeting with a group of people who were provided jobs by the Job Ready Centre arranged by Labour Minister Adul Saengsingkaew, the prime minister said that a lot of good things were happening but the media were only interested in trivial issues.