Thai junta to lift ban on political activity, paving way for election

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday he would use a special order that gives the military sweeping powers to lift a ban on political activity that has been in place since a 2014 coup, paving the way for a 2018 general election.

Major political parties had been urging the government for months to lift the ban to allow parties to prepare for the vote.

Prayuth, who is also head of the junta, has said that Thailand will hold an election in November 2018 - news that was largely welcomed by investors in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.