Juntanomics in Southeast Asia

Thailand needs lots more LNG and much more investment. The military dictatorship probably won’t help it get either

Thailand has approved a new constitution drafted by the government that was installed by a military coup in 2014-and it probably won't be good news for the country's energy sector. A referendum, held on 7 August, was a clear victory for the military-led government, endorsed by around 60% of voters. Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general who serves as Thailand's prime minister, has said that general elections will be held in late 2017. But for now, the referendum consolidates military control. It means the transition back to civilian rule will take as long as five years, and it makes members of the upper house of parliament fully appointed-a process the men in uniforms control. It's all mak