Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has announced his retirement from politics. He is eagerly awaiting the election of his successor because opposition politician Pete lacks the support of the army.
Nine years after seizing power in a military coup, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha now wants to retire from politics. According to media reports, the 69-year-old shared his decision in a statement.
Accordingly, he drew a conclusion from the poor performance of his party UTN (United Thai Nation Party) in the mid-May parliamentary elections.
Prayuth: Traditions must be protected
“From now on, I would like to retire from politics and resign as a member of the United Thai Nation Party,” the Bangkok Post quoted the statement as saying. Accordingly, the outgoing prime minister will continue to manage the affairs of the government until a new government takes over. He also called on UTN to “protect the nation’s institutions, religion, and property.”
It alludes to traditions that former opposition politician Pita Limjarronrat wants to reform, at least in part. This includes, among other things, a change in the strict criminal code on lewdness.
Election of a new prime minister later this week
In the May 14 parliamentary elections, the pro-democracy opposition party “Move Onward” won with its leading candidate, PETA. The “Bangkok Post” wrote that the election of the new prime minister is scheduled for next Thursday.
It is not yet clear if PETA will be elected in the first round of voting. The elections are eagerly awaited. Since the military coup, it has been difficult for candidates not backed by the military to obtain the necessary majority of votes.
After the parliamentary elections, the multi-party movement formed an eight-party coalition. With a total of 312 votes in parliament, the coalition falls short of the 376 votes needed in the entirety of the House and Senate to elevate PETA to the highest office.
