Pro-establishment Thai MPs plan military-backed party to keep junta chief as prime minister

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Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha waves as he arrives for a group photo of leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo: AP

Published: 4:36pm, 4 Oct 2016Updated: 11:01pm, 4 Oct 2016

Pro-establishment lawmakers in Thailand said they plan to ensure junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha stays on as prime minister by fielding a proxy political party backed by the military in a general election planned for next year.

We need a good person to ensure the reforms put in place by the junta get carried out ... that person is General Prayuth

Paiboon Nititawan, a former senator

Thailand voted overwhelmingly in August to accept a junta-backed constitution, paving the way for an election – but one that will require future elected governments to rule on the military’s terms.

Paiboon Nititawan, a former senator appointed by the military to its reform council and its constitution drafting committee, said he would set up a party to nominate Prayuth as the next prime minister.

“We have retired generals and soldiers that are interested in joining our party,” Paiboon told Reuters. “We need a good person to ensure the reforms put in place by the junta get carried out. For me, that person is General Prayuth.”

Thailand has seen 19 coups or attempted coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and the role of the military in politics is always closely watched. Politicians from main political parties said the military had been lobbying people to join Paiboon’s party.

For its part, the junta says it does not support the formation of a political party and it is not interested in staying in power beyond 2017. Prayuth has said that all options must be exhausted before he would accept any nomination to become prime minister again.