Thailand eases ban on political activities

Thailand partially eased its ban on political activities, the ruling junta announced yesterday, allowing political parties to recruit new members for the first time in four year as the countdown begins for a much-anticipated national poll.

After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities.

The junta has repeatedly postponed elections, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn this week endorsed two bills that cleared bureaucratic hurdles to a much-anticipated poll.

An election is required to take place by May. Senior military leaders have floated a February 24 election date.