BANGKOK — Thailand voted on Sunday to approve a new constitution drawn up by the ruling junta, preliminary results showed, in a major victory for the army and a blow to the stuttering pro-democracy movement. Partial results released by the Election Commission late yesterday showed 62% of voters had approved the charter, with 90% of votes counted so far.Authorities estimated a subdued turnout of about 55% of Thailand’s 50.2-million registered voters, after a poll run-up in which independent campaigning and open debate was barred.The referendum was the first time Thais had been able to go to the polls since army chief-turned-prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, toppled the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014.The military says its new constitution will curb endemic political corruption and bring stability after the dizzying merry-go-round of recent years.Critics say it aims to neuter civilian politicians and tighten the grip of the military — and its allies in the royalist ...
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