Thai PM Prayuth tries to cling onto power by switching political parties

Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized control of Thailand in a 2014 coup, has split from the military-backed Palang Pracharath party

He is manoeuvring to stay in power ahead of elections expected in May despite his growing unpopularity and constitutional term limits

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Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the official announcement that he is joining the newly established United Thai Nation Party, or Ruamthai Sarngchart, on Monday in Bangkok. Photo: AP

Published: 11:16am, 10 Jan 2023

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has joined a new party as he looks for ways to extend his eight-year rule despite term limits, signalling shifting alliances and a ramp up in political jockeying ahead of elections slated for May.

On Monday, Prayuth became a member of the newly formed Ruamthai Sarngchart party, which has pledged to name the former army chief as its candidate for prime minister. The move completes his split with the military-backed Palang Pracharath party that backed his bid for the top job four years ago.

“There’s work to be finished and that’s why I must step up to do this,” Prayuth said after signing up to become a member of Ruamthai, also known as the United Thai Nation party. “I’m here not because I want to stay but because Thailand has to carry on.”

The former coup-leader is manoeuvring to stay in power despite a steady decline in his popularity and a constitutional term limit that allows him to stay as prime minister just two more years.

Prayuth went looking for a new political vehicle after his former party, Palang Pracharath, signalled it would back Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon (left) for the top job. Photo: Reuters

He is counting on the support of the 250-member Senate, stacked with allies from the military establishment, who have until 2024 the power to vote alongside the Lower House to select the prime minister. In the 2019 election, the Senate kept at bay the opposition Pheu Thai party linked to Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister ousted in an earlier coup and whose sister was later prime minister until the 2014 putsch led by Prayuth.