MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Thailand’s military-appointed National Reform Council rejected on Sunday a draft constitution, in a move likely to postpone the elections in the country until 2017, media reported.
The controversial document would enable the military to seize power from a democratically-elected government in case of a "crisis," BBC said.
The decision to throw the draft out was endorsed by 135 members of the 247-strong Council, with 105 backing the document. The backing of at least 124 Council members was required to pass it, according to the Bangkok Times.
It took the National Reform Council nine months to trash out the draft constitution, according to the BBC. The military will hold on to power until another groundwork document is drafted and voted on in a nationwide referendum.
A new panel is due to be set up in 30 days, the Thai outlet said. It will now have six months to prepare a new edition of the constitution. A general election, which was expected to be held after its adoption in late 2016, has thus been delayed until 2017.