Bangkok: Ahead of the Parliament voting, Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has announced that his retirement. Addressing media officials today, July 11, 2023, the PM has shared that he will be quitting politics.
“From now on I want to quit politics, resigning as a member of the United Thai Nation Party,” read the official statement issued by United Thai Nation Party. Until a new leader is elected, Prayuth will remain in office in “caretaker mode”.
The UTN Party leader announced his retirement two days before the Thai parliament was scheduled to vote for its next Prime Minister. Chan-ocha’s retirement from politics comes nine years after he took power in a military coup.
Chan-ocha, the former army chief led a junta until the Thailand General Elections in 2019 where he was chosen by the parliament to remain as Prime Minister of the country for four more years.
“I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation, religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people. The result is currently bearing fruit for the public,” stated the Thailand PM.
On May 14, 2023, the military backed United Thai Nation Party lost dramatically. His party won 36 seats out of 500 seats during the polls.
During the polls, the Move Forward Party led by Pita Limjaroenat took the lead with a total of 152 seats. The Pheu Thai party came in second with a total of 141 seats. The new prime minister of Thailand will be elected on Thursday by the parliament.
Source: TIMESNOW NEWS
