"There will be elections for sure next year," he told an economic forum on October 27.  Mr Abhisit said he did not mind losing the election if it could bring peace and order to the nation. He said he would try his best in the meantime to minimise risks to people's security and ensure peace and political stability.

The PM said after the forum he could not be specific about the month when the election would be held next year.

Mr Abhisit's confirmation of an early election comes against the backdrop of his government's national reconciliation efforts following political violence in April and May.

He has proposed a reconciliation road map and set up panels to seek the truth about the violence, study charter amendments and push reconciliation.