(Bloomberg) -- Thailand will hold a general election in February, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha told Japan Premier Shinzo Abe during a meeting in Tokyo.
“Prime Minister Prayuth assured that the Thai government has progressed on the path to sustainable democracy,” Prayuth said, according to a statement from the Southeast Asian nation's military administration. “There will be an election in February.”
Prayuth, who seized power in a coup in May 2014, said in August that the election should take place on February 24. Previous time-lines for a poll were repeatedly pushed back.
The Thai leader said the elections are to be held between February and May, but if possible in February, according to a Japanese summary of the meeting. Abe replied that he was looking forward to a swift return to democracy.
In his meeting with Abe, Prayuth also thanked the Japanese government for its support, and for cooperation on trade and economic development issues.
--With assistance from Isabel Reynolds and Margo Towie.
To contact the reporter on this story: Anuchit Nguyen in Bangkok at anguyen@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Jason Koutsoukis, Colin Keatinge
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