By Oyintari Ben
Nine years after he was installed by a military coup, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Tuesday that he was leaving politics and would only hold the position for a limited time.
His declaration was widely anticipated given that his United Thai Nation party, supported by the military, was thoroughly defeated in the election of May 14—winning just 36 of the 500 seats in the house.
Until a new administration is established, he will continue to serve as interim premier.
The former army chief, a fervent royalist, oversaw a junta until elections in 2019. He was elected by parliament to continue serving as prime minister for another four years, a decision his rivals claim was predetermined.
Prayuth, 69, has refuted that claim and claimed on Tuesday that he had “achieved many successes”.
“I have toiled arduously as prime minister to safeguard the nation, the monarchy, and the religious system for the good of the cherished people. The outcome already benefits the general population, he added in a statement.
“I have made an effort to strengthen the nation in order to promote stability and peace, and I have overcome many challenges on the domestic and international fronts.”
Prayuth has faced numerous obstacles in the nine years since his coup, including court proceedings, confidence votes in the house, and street demonstrations by opponents who viewed him as an opportunist without a legitimate public mandate.
His declaration comes as the new Parliament is ready to meet on Thursday to vote on the next prime minister, a decision that is not guaranteed to go through.
