Nine years after taking over in a coup, Thailand's departing prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha has finally announced he will leave politics. The former army general announced his retirement from politics in a statement on Tuesday, July 11. He will continue to be prime minister, though, until the new administration takes place.
In a military coup in 2014, Prayut, who was then the head of the army, took control of the country. Then, in the midst of a contentious election in 2019, he assumed office as prime minister while wearing a "civilian" appearance.
In the national election held in May of this year, parties supported by the military—including Prayut's party—were defeated. The Move Forward Party and the Pew Thai Party, two pro-democracy parties, both achieved significant success. A new prime minister will shortly be chosen by the parliament. In this circumstance, Pratt made the decision to leave politics.
In a statement published on the United Thai Nation (UTN) party's Facebook page, Prayut declared, "I am stepping down from the political arena with my resignation as a member of the UTN Party." A few weeks before the legislative elections, he joined the UTN party.
In the election on May 14, the United Thai Nation Party, which was supported by the military, came in fifth place with 36 seats. Pita Limjaroena's Party Move Forward Party gained 152 seats in the election. With 141 seats, the Pew Thai Party came in second. With the help of an alliance with four other like-minded parties, the two parties are establishing the government.
