[1/3] Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha leaves after a cabinet meeting before end of his term in next week at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, March 14, 2023.
REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, July 11 (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on Tuesday his retirement from politics, nine years after he took power in a military coup, and promised to stay in charge only temporarily.
The former army chief, a staunch royalist, led a junta until an election in 2019 and was chosen by parliament to remain prime minister for four more years, an outcome his opponents insist was pre-determined.
"I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation, religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people.
His announcement comes as the new parliament prepares to convene on Thursday to hold a vote on who will be the next prime minister, an outcome far from certain.
Persons:
Prayuth Chan, ocha, Prayuth, Panu, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor
Organizations:
Government, REUTERS, Thailand's, United Thai Nation, Thomson
Locations:
Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK