Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister PrayutChan-o-cha formally resigned as the head of the military government on July 15,saying Thailand will now function as a normal democracy after five years ofmilitary rule.
Prayut, in a national televised address, said militaryrule had brought success in many areas, from tackling illegal fishing and human trafficking, to the rescue of12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave last year.
Thailand is now fully a democratic country with a constitutional monarchy, with aparliament whose members are elected, the PM said. All problems will beaddressed normally based on a democratic system with no use of special powers,he added.
Last week, Prayut used those powers for one last time toend restrictions on media and at the same time, transferred civilian legalcases from military to civilian court, sweeping powers the military government had wielded.
Members of theHouse of Representatives and Senate of Thailand on June 5 voted Prayut of thePalang Pracharath Party as prime minister of the country.
After more than 10 hours of debate among MPs and senators, Prayut received atotal of 500 votes, returning as PM for a second term after a five-year termsince the military coup in 2014.
King MahaVajiralongkorn last week endorsed Prayut's new civilian cabinet, in whichthe PM also assumes the post of defence minister.
Prayut willlead all cabinet ministers in a swear-in ceremony during an audience with themonarch before taking office on July 16.
The general election in Thailand, the first since the 2014 coup, took place on March 24.-VNA
VNA
