WORLD NEWS | Thai PM Prayuth to run for re-election on May 14

Bangkok [Thailand]March 26 (ANI): Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has accepted his party’s nomination to run for re-election on May 14, Al Jazeera reported.

The 69-year-old former general, Prayuth, has promised to create a new political environment and end decades of turmoil. He is running for office in the recently formed Thai United Party.

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The current president has brought in five years of military-enforced stability since the military overthrew the civilian government in 2014, Al Jazeera reported.

But fresh violence erupted after his election as Thailand’s civilian leader following a 2019 general election as his government took drastic measures to try to curb student-led pro-democracy demonstrations, the report said.

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The second candidate for prime minister nominated by the party is party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.

Thailand has been politically turbulent since the military overthrew the government of populist Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 coup.

Prayuth is likely to face Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter and niece of two former prime ministers from billionaire families.

Thailand’s election will be a showdown between elite institutions and the pro-democracy forces that have dominated the Southeast Asian nation’s politics for decades, Al Jazeera reported.

Prayuth’s road back to the top seems to be difficult. He is clearly trailing Shinawatra in the polls and is also the Progressive Party’s candidate.

Populist parties linked to Thaksin have captured a majority in every election since 2001.

A report published by Al Jazeera stated that Deputy Prime Minister Prayut Prayuth, who is regarded as a hardline political figure, is another opponent of Prayuth.

The two former military comrades have recently drifted apart after Prayuth joined the Thai United Party, but Prayuth stayed with the People’s Power Party, the largest party in the government coalition.

In Thailand, the prime minister is chosen by a joint session of both houses of parliament, rather than by popular vote.

The 250-seat Senate is likely to vote unanimously for the conservative candidate. In 2019, Prayut won the unanimous support of the Senate.

The veteran, though trailing opponents in opinion polls, is hoping to gain support with a pledge to defend the monarchy, promote national stability and focus on the welfare of the populace.

Speaking to 1,000 supporters at a convention center on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday, Prayuth said “we will create a new political climate” just a week after he dissolved parliament to set a May 14 election date .

“We’re going to have policies that address the problems of the people and the country, and the bottom line — I just have to say one word, I don’t need to expand or anything — we’re going to move beyond conflict,” he said.

He also said, “We can’t have any more conflicts,” adding, “Over the past few decades, there have been problems. Don’t forget. Don’t have short-term memory. We can’t let it happen again,” Al Jazeera reported. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)