Jakarta. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will skip the upcoming 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo on May 10-11 because it comes only a few days before Thailand holds its election.

“The Thai Prime Minister has stated that he would not be able to attend the summit because Thailand’s general election fall on May 14. He has assigned his deputy prime minister to be his special envoy,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters in Jakarta.

Prayut Chan-o-cha’s non-attendance means that there will only be 8 ASEAN country leaders attending the string of foreign policy talks. ASEAN has barred the Myanmar junta from attending any of the bloc’s high-level meetings due to its failure on implementing the five-point peace plan. 

“In addition to the 8 leaders, ASEAN Secretary-General [Kao Kim Hourn] and Timor Leste Prime Minister [Taur Matan Ruak] will take part in the 42nd ASEAN Summit,” Retno said.

ASEAN last year agreed to admit Timor Leste as its 11th member “in principle”. The group also granted observer status to Timor Leste, allowing the country to join all ASEAN meetings, including the summit plenaries. 

According to Retno, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will have bilateral talks with some ASEAN member states on May 9. To date, the leaders of Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Timor Leste are confirmed for the bilateral meetings with Jokowi.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will run for re-election in the May 14 polls. The retired general has assumed the prime ministerial post since 2014.