Thai king opens first parliament after coup

Thailand’s king yesterday opened parliament five years after a 2014 coup, stressing the importance of “national security” and “people’s well-being” as the junta moves within striking distance of cementing its grip on power. Results of the March 24 poll were released almost two months after the vote and showed no clear winner. But the junta-linked Palang Pracharat won 115 seats in the lower house, only 11 votes shy of a majority in the combined parliament.