Military-backed party is already here 

“Seeks more time to lift political ban but promises to extend preparation time for next election.”
So no gatherings of more than five people at all, but the NCPO meets weekly and is readying itself to be a political party. I’ll guess there are more than five members of the NCPO.
Prayut tours the nation like he is on a presidential campaign and gets to address the nation on TV every Friday in what now seems like a party political broadcast. 
Forget any notion that whenever there is an election that it will be free and fair.
Champers
“Responding to speculation that a military-backed party could protect current government leaders from retaliation after the election, Meechai said such vengeful acts would be difficult unless the junta-backed government had actually committed wrongdoing.”
Er... ahem... Aren’t military coups illegal? Don’t they constitute “wrongdoing”?
Just askin’.
Samui Bodoh
Love the way he repeatedly states people have choice so long as I agree that it’s okay. 
Oziex1
It’s a done deal. The new boss is going to be the same as the old boss.
Bluebluewater
Is anyone really surprised at this development? It should be obvious by now that narcissistic Little P has never had any plans to release his iron grip on the former Land of Smiles and the glory of being Fearless Leader. It’s merely smoke and mirrors to appease foreign anti-junta governments. Little P ain’t goin’ nowhere folks.  Better get used to it.
Jimbo in Thailand
They and he do not know what they are doing from one minute to the next. If he allows political debate, his junta will be part of it, and he does not handle criticism well.
yellowboat 
Be so funny if he formed a party that was then overthrown in a coup.
RichardColeman 
The spontaneous coup to protect the nation was in the planning stage for some months before it actually came to fruition.
 If there are odds being offered on a “military” party with you-know-who continuing in power then they are likely to be short odds. With the continued denials, rest-assured the planning is well under way, but nothing less than most had anticipated. Expect an official announcement just after limited political campaigning is given the green light.
Thailand
ThaiVisa