Thai military-controlled legislature to appoint next PM
Iran Press TV
Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:6PM
Thai officials say the military-controlled legislature will meet this week to nominate the country's next prime minister as the army rules in the country.
Members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) said Tuesday that the legislature will likely nominate Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha as the country's interim prime minister.
"Having spoken to members of the NLA many of us agree that army chief ...Prayuth ... is the right candidate," assembly member Air chief Marshall Arkom Ganchanahirun confirmed.
The interim prime minister's appointment is scheduled to take place on August 21, said NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, referring to the 197-member national assembly.
The new premier will be responsible to lead a 35-member cabinet.
Meanwhile, Prayuth announced in a televised address in June that the country will hold elections by late 2015.
On May 22, the Thai army seized power and ousted former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, following months of anti-government protests and violence in the country.
Demonstrations primarily erupted in Thailand after the government proposed an amnesty bill last October that could have pardoned Yingluck's brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, setting the scene for his return to the country.
Opponents viewed the former premier to be a proxy for her elder brother, who was toppled in a coup in 2006. Thaksin has been living in self-exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence.
In the violence that led to the coup 28 people were killed.
GMA/AB
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