Chris Baker, who is the author of several books on Thailand and a long-term resident of Bangkok, has said that incumbent Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha is politically naive.
“General Prayuth was not expecting the level of criticism the Constitution has received,” Baker told CNN in an exclusive interview.
“Clearly he does not want a referendum, but he is politically naive-he still thinks that he can tell the people to do something and they will do it,” he added.
Some people in Thailand feel that the military may keep the reins of power longer than expected.
“I suspect he would like to stay (as leader of the country) for some time,” Baker said.
“He is hoping to create a situation where the Thai people want him to stay in power,” he added.
It has been one year since the Thai military, led by General Prayuth, seized control in a bloodless coup following six months of street protests that engulfed the country, leaving nearly 30 people dead and hundreds more injured.
General Prayuth has pledged that he would work to return an elected government to power.
The elections were initially planned for October this year, but were pushed back to early next year.
A new Constitution, written by a committee appointed by the ruling junta, has been drafted, but critics say it is anti-democratic.
It includes provisions that would allow for a non-elected person to serve as the Prime Minister, and an electoral system that would weaken the power of the main parties and favor coalition rule.
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been accused of dereliction of duty in a controversial rice subsidy scheme that cost the country billions, is currently standing trial. (ANI)