Thailand will hold its general election in November next year, announced Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today, which will mark the country's return to democracy after the military seized power in May 2014.

The exact date of the much-awaited election will only be announced in June.

“Around June next year, (the government) will announce the date of the general election and in Nov 2018, we will have an election day," he told the media after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting at the Government House here today.

On the lifting of a ban on political activities in Thailand following the military coup more than three years ago, the government, he said, would consider the matter in accordance with organic bill on political parties announced in the royal gazette in Oct 2017.

Prayut, who is also head of the National Council of Peace and Order, however, did not give any time table for the lifting of the ban.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, when approached by journalists after the cabinet meeting, said political protest would still be disallowed even after the ban on political activities was lifted.

- Bernama