US calls planned Thai poll delay to 2016 'unwise'
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A general election to return Thailand to democracy will be held in February 2016 at the earliest, a deputy prime minister said after talks with a U.S. diplomat on Tuesday, a delay Washington later called "unwise and unjusti
The military government, established after a May 22 coup, said last month an election planned for late 2015 would be delayed until 2016, giving more time for reforms which the military says should bring stability after a decade of factional rivalry.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam clarified the target date after talks with US Charge d'Affaires W Patrick Murphy.
"I told the US charge d'affaires today elections will take place at the earliest in February 2016," Wisanu told reporters.
"But if we have to have a referendum, polls could be delayed by a further three months," he said, referring to a possible plebiscite on a new constitution.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said Washington believed Thais should be allowed to choose a democratically elected government "as soon as possible."
"We ... believe a delay until 2016 would be unwise and unjustified," the spokesperson added.
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