Bangkok, June 6
Thailand’s Parliament has elected 2014 coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as Prime Minister in a vote that helps ensure the military’s sustained dominance of politics since the country became a constitutional monarchy nearly nine decades ago.
The military-backed party that nominated Prayuth won the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives in the General Election in March.
But his selection was virtually assured on Wednesday because the prime minister is chosen in a joint vote of the 500-seat House and the 250-seat Senate, whose members were appointed by the junta Prayuth leads. Two House seats were vacant due to a suspension and resignation.
Prayuth was elected to serve a second term by a vote of 500 to 244 for his opponent, Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Prayuth, a former army commander, was the candidate of the military-backed Palang Pracharath party, which holds 116 House seats, as well as lawmakers from smaller parties. Prayuth’s appointment becomes official when it is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Prayuth did not run for office in the March election - the constitution enacted under the junta he headed does not require that the PM come from Parliament. — AP
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2WthH11
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