bangkok thailand hold general election november 2018 prime minister prayuth chan-ocha say tuesday precise date give yet vote since take power 2014 military coup prayuth head rule junta say exact date would announce june 2018. junta announce election date least two time past push back late cite concern change constitution security issue around june announce date next election prayuth tell reporters bangkok government house november election former army chief prayuth lead may 2014 coup widely criticize western nations say necessary end decade political turbulence root corruption april king maha vajiralongkorn sign law military-backed constitution kickstarts process election junta promise restore democracy new charter provide proportional vote system likely reduce influence major political party critics say aim strengthen role military analysts expect political activities resume slowly funeral king bhumibol adulyadej month end year mourn monarch many thais saw father figure prayuth want delay election know king cremation pressure election say kan yuenyong siam intelligence unit think tank announcement election november next year act reduce pressure could chance protest tell reuters thailand main stock index rise 0.7 percent news open tuesday 0.3 percent government face increase pressure lift ban political activities levy soon coup prayuth consider lift ban appropriate time tell reporters without give detail junta initially promise election 2015 seize power government prime minister yingluck shinawatra sister thaksin shinawatra thaksin governments back every election since 2001 partly overwhelm popularity politically-powerful rural voters shinawatras make enemies include among military-backed establishment accuse thaksin ally corruption thaksin oust 2006 live abroad self-imposed exile yingluck follow suit august flee thailand ahead verdict criminal case politicians express skepticism election date really believable change many time say chaturon chaisang member thaksin puea thai party ong-art klampaiboon deputy leader democrat party puea thai big competitor welcome news election date create clarity ong-art say good country people thai junta set firm date election many false start