Prayut Chan-o-Cha

With parliament’s unsurprising vote, Prayut Chan-o-cha has completed an engineered effort to prolong his rule as premier.

Prayut’s reference to a George Orwell classic has served as yet another front for criticism against the government given its past record and the country’s current state.

Doubts about the results and the role of the election commission in particular have further intensified distrust about the country’s institutions and muddied the waters.

Situation intensifies uncertainties about the result as well as the future prospects of the country.

And if they are not, what should liberal and democratic political parties in Thailand do?

The premier has intensified his effort to strengthen his brand in the run-up to much-anticipated polls.

A closer look at what an unprecedented development might mean for upcoming elections and the country’s political future.

Now will the country actually go to the polls as scheduled on March 24 -- and will elections make a difference?

This time around, Thailand’s elections, slated for February 2019, look like they will actually materialize. But can they rescue its troubled democracy?

Though Bangkok continues to look for ways to realize its ambitions on this front, several uncertainties remain.

The Thai government must face greater international pressure to deliver on its promise to lift political restrictions.

The generals want to be sure the opposition is eliminated before agreeing to hold elections.