What Thailand's Appointment Of The Military General As New PM Means For Its Future
Three months after Thailand's latest coup took place, it is finally complete as General Prayuth Chan-ocha being elected the country's prime minister by the National Legislative Assembly, a body he hand-picked full of military colleagues earlier this month.
By Sadho Ram — 22 Aug 2014, 04:21 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
Some two months ago when it was claimed that the Military Rule in Thailand was likely to last longer than the country's last coup in 2006, most wouldn't have thought that it would actually be so
As with the appointment of the man behind the coup, General Prayuth Chan-ocha as country's Prime Minister, it now seems Thailand will (unofficially) continue to remain under the Military Rule. (Although, we hope, officially it wouldn't be so.)
The general led the army in the May coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra's civilian government
Image via bbcimg.co.ukThe 60-year-old General Prayuth Chan-ocha was nominated on Thursday in a legislature hand-picked by Thailand's junta and made up of mostly military and police figures. The General was the head of the army when he led a dramatic coup in May.
The National Assembly took only 15 minutes to name Gen Prayuth as prime minister
Image via bbcimg.co.ukThai politics have taken a circular nature as of late. Per the new interim constitution established in July, the military junta that has ruled the country since its May 22 coup appointed a new National Legislative Assembly (NLA). In return, as many predicted, the NLA has appointed General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the mastermind behind the coup, the country’s new prime minister.
Prayuth was elected with 191 yeas, 0 nays and 3 abstentions in the NLA. The NLA is effectively a rubber-stamp legislature designed to make Gen. Prayuth’s ascent appear more legitimate. In reality, Prayuth’s role prior to the NLA appointment was effectively that of prime minister — he was running the day-to-day affairs of the country. Prayuth’s ascension to the post of prime minister comes three months after Thailand’s latest military coup.
The Bangkok Post quoted the General as saying he was not approached before he was nominated. He did not attend the National Legislative Assembly session where he was nominated and voted in as Thailand's 29th Prime Minister.
His attendance was not required. He was at the 21st Infantry Regiment at Navamintrachinee military camp in Chon Buri province at the time. Gen Prayuth only smiled when asked whether he knew he has been voted in as prime minister. He said briefly that he had not been approached before he was nominated. Asked whether he was ready for the post, Gen Prayuth said: "I only want to the country to move forward."
bangkokpost.comThe National Legislative Assembly's choice is expected to be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej later
According to the Wall Street Journal, Prayuth will formally take on the role of prime minister following the endorsement of Thailand’s king. The Journal notes that “royal approval is largely viewed as a formality and the general already appeared focused on his new job.”
wsj.comUncertainty looms over the Thai king’s health. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is 86, and details about the Thai royal succession remain ambiguous. The military is largely aligned with the monarchy and is attempting to dismantle former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s base of support (known as the “red shirts”). Thaksin was overthrown in a coup in 2006; his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra was serving as prime minster before being removed by Thailand’s court earlier this year.
Prayuth's appointment will help him remain influential in Thai politics following his mandatory retirement from the Thai army later this year. Having been formally appointed as the Prime Minister, Prayuth can rule unimpeded until Thailand returns to party-based politics.
Prime Minister designate Prayuth Chan-ocha seen with his wife as they leave Chonburi just after noon
Image via bangkokpost.comOne of his first actions as prime minister will be to appoint a new cabinet. Under the interim constitution from July, Thai citizens who were formerly involved with political parties are banned from political participation via the NLA or other bodies. The interim constitution demonstrates the extent to which Prayuth and the junta are anxious about allowing Thailand’s political parties any influence over the current state of Thai politics.
The new government is expected to stay in power until the fall of 2015, when a general election is tentatively scheduled to take place
The junta has justified its long grip on power as necessary to return the country to normal after substantial protests beginning in late 2013, while it has effectively silenced the Red Shirt faction led by Yingluck and her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (currently in self-imposed exile in Dubai), by forcing them to sign agreements that in effect silence their ability to publicly protest the army’s actions.
Prayuth’s installation is a sign that the military, and to a lesser degree the Yellow Shirt faction of pro-monarchists and urban elite, don’t see a viable long-term solution to stemming the popular support of the Red Shirt faction headed by the Shinawatra family, whose power base mainly resides in the rural communities of the north and northeast. Indeed, the junta’s new constitution and the election of Prayuth, who helped orchestrate the military’s response to a 2010 pro-Thaksin Red Shirt rally, which killed dozens, shows that the army intends to remove as much of the Thanksin’s political influence as possible before next year’s elections.
How successful General Prayuth is going to be, will depend on how skilfully he uses the formidable hand he now holds. While critics say he is abrupt and impatient, with deeply conservative outlook, fans describe him as decisive, and a good listener.
His next task is to appoint a 35-member cabinet, and to oversee the establishment of a 250-member reform council, which is supposed to carry out a root-and-branch reform of politics and government. It is a hugely ambitious agenda. Given the way the military has smothered dissent since the coup, there has been little visible opposition so far. That may change as they tackle more difficult issues.
Somewhat ironically, Prayuth said just after the coup in May that “I will not allow Thailand to be like Ukraine or Egypt.” However, the general’s unopposed installment as leader amidst a very strong crackdown on public and political opposition is at the very least reminiscent of Abdel el-Sisi’s recent ascent to power in Egypt.