Thai premier breaks news on election timing after violent protest crackdown

Three weeks after a crackdown on anti-government protesters in Bangkok. Reuters broke news on June 6 that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will keep an emergency decree in place for the time being, but that elections aimed at resolving his country’s social and political rifts may be held early next year. In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Ho Chi Minh City, Abhisit also said that Thailand’s economic growth in the second quarter would exceed 6 percent and full-year growth could be close to that level. Both forecasts were new. He added that the central bank was in no rush to raise interest rates, puncturing speculation that the bank may tighten policy next month. Several investment banks, including ING, cited the new forecasts and the interest rate comment in research. The election quotes ran on the front page of The Bangkok Post. Other media matched the Reuters story only later in the day, and Bloomberg followed the next day.