In a message marking the 12th anniversary of the military coup that toppled his government, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday criticized his country’s ruling government, saying military coups targeting his family have made the country worse off over the past 12 years, Channel News Asia reports. However, he also added that it was time for political rivals to talk, instead of squabbling. Thailand has enacted new laws mandating a general election by May next year. This could pave the way to ending control by the military, which overthrew a democratically elected government in 2014. However, people remain skeptical as the regime has repeatedly postponed long-promised elections, Japan’s NHK reports.