Bangkok (VNA) – Members of the Houseof Representatives and Senate of Thailand on June 5 voted for Prayut Chan-o-chaof the Palang Pracharath Party to be the prime minister of thecountry.
After more than 10 hours of debate among MPsand senators, Prayut received a total of 500 votes, returning as PM for asecond term after a five-year term since the 2014 coup.
His opponent ThanathornJuangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, won 244 votes.
At the voting, threeMPs abstained and one was on sick leave.
As such, Thailand’s parliament completed itselection of the new PM at the first joint meeting of both the upper and lowerhouses. To win, a candidate must garner a minimum of 376 votes at the meeting.
The result will be submitted to the king forratification and the new cabinet is expected to be announced this month.
The general election in Thailand, the firstsince the military coup in 2014, took place on March 24 with more than 50million people eligible to vote.-VNA
