It will come as a relief to many that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has set the month, if not the date, when he will return the power to the Thai people. He assured reporters on Tuesday that the general election will take place in November next year and that the exact date will be announced in June.
To his critics, Gen Prayut is hardly a military man of his word. He earlier pushed back his election roadmap four times, citing security concerns or the need to wait for the new constitution.
This time, the critics are still doubtful. Gen Prayut himself must prove they are wrong. And he must realise that he is running out of excuses and has to follow his new time frame for the roadmap to democracy. Any further delays will no longer be acceptable and another broken promise is unlikely to be tolerated by the people.
The prime minister, also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), seemed to be under pressure to make the announcement following his return from the US trip where he assured US President Donald Trump about the election.
At home, his fresh election promise should send a strong message to the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly that it also has to strictly adhere to the deadlines for the deliberation of two key organic laws, one on the election of MPs and another on the Senate. This is to ensure that no further excuses will be used by any parties to delay the poll.
Under the heavy-handed military rule over the past three years and five months or so, political activities and freedom of expression have been strictly monitored or prohibited even though calm and order have been maintained. With the organic law on political parties taking effect since Sunday, the military regime has no reason not to ease political restrictions immediately.
An end to the ban is important not only for politicians, who need time to be prepared for the election as stipulated by the new organic law, but also the general public, who need greater freedom to discuss the new election and political systems, draft laws and other public issues.
Even though the Thai economy has picked up recently with increased growth projected for this and next year, political uncertainty remains one of the country's key economic risks. A big jump in the Thai stock market on Tuesday following Gen Prayut's announcement proves that clarity over the general election is a key factor to help boost investor confidence.
Even if Gen Prayut remains true to his own word and lets the general election take place in November next year, Thailand after its second-longest period of military rule will hardly be the same.
The country will likely emerge as a bruised state needing to be healed socially, economically and politically.
Meanwhile, the Thai people will find themselves in less familiar territory under the untested new parliamentary and election systems. With a new proportional voting system under the new charter, for example, the influence of major political parties will likely be reduced.
On the other hand, the military's power will be entrenched, during the first five years after the election, in the Senate whose 250 members will be handpicked by the NCPO.
A newly elected government will also find itself in a position similar to the Myanmar government of Aung San Suu Kyi who has to share and balance power with the military.
A period of 13 months from now until the general election is a long wait for the people. But it is the best option and thus acceptable for now. Any longer than that, if Gen Prayut fails to keep his word, will be damaging.
