Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Thai prime minister, has accepted his party’s candidature and will stand for reelection on May 14.
The 69-year-old former general Prayuth has pledged to create a new political environment that ends decades of strife. With the newly founded United Thai Nation Party, he is running for office.
The incumbent brought in five years of stability that was upheld by the military after the military overthrew a civilian administration in 2014.
But after the 2019 election, when he was chosen as Thailand’s civilian leader, there were new outbursts of violence as his government tried to put a stop to student-led pro-democracy protests by using harsh measures.
The second contender for prime minister in the party’s nomination is party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.
Thailand has experienced political unrest ever since the army overthrew nationalist Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration in a coup in 2006.
The daughter and niece of two previous prime ministers from the wealthy family, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, will probably run against Prayuth for the Pheu Thai party.
An elite establishment and pro-democracy forces that have controlled Thai politics for decades are expected to square off in the upcoming poll.
Prayuth’s route return to the top appears to be difficult. He trails Shinawatra and a candidate from a progressive group significantly in polls.
In every election since 2001, Thaksin-affiliated populist groups have taken home the most seats.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is regarded as a powerful political operative, is another opponent for Prayuth.
Prayuth joined the United Thai Nation party, while Prawit stayed with Palang Pracharath, the biggest party in the government coalition, and the two former army comrades lately drifted apart.
The prime minister is chosen by a joint session of both houses of parliament rather than by public vote.
The 250-seat Senate will probably vote unanimously in support of a conservative candidate. In 2019, Prayuth had the support of the Senate as a whole.
Despite trailing rivals in surveys, the military veteran is hoping to gain support by promising to protect the monarchy, increase national security, and look out for the welfare of the populace.
Less than a week after dissolving parliament to set the May 14 election date, Prayuth addressed 1,000 supporters at a conference centre outside of Bangkok on Saturday and promised to “create a new political climate.”
We will have policies that deal with problems facing the people and the nation, and most importantly – and I only need to say one word, I don’t need to elaborate or anything – we will move past conflict, he said.
He declared, “We can’t have any more conflict.” “There have been issues in the decades that have past. Do not overlook. lacks short-term recall. We cannot allow it to occur once more.
