2016 Thai referendum: Voters overwhelmingly approve junta-backed constitution Sunday Aug 07,2016

Thai voters on Sunday Aug 07,2016 overwhelmingly approved a new junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed — rather than elected

In addition to asking for an opinion on the constitution, the referendum also asked a supplementary question on whether voters wanted an appointed Senate to choose a prime minister. That question elicited a less enthusiastic approval — 58 percent “yes” and 42 percent “no,”

Fifty-five percent of Thailand’s roughly 50 million registered voters cast ballots in the referendum.

In a referendum called by the military government, 62 %of the voters said they approved of the new constitution, while 38 % rejected it, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters. He said that 91% of the ballots had been counted, and that the result was not expected to change much after all votes are in.

The referendum was seen as a test of the popularity of the military government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a retired army general who has severely curtailed dissent since coming to power in a 2014 coup

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha votes in a constitutional referendum.

 

Former Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra poses as she casts her vote in a national referendum