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Prayut Chan-o-cha
Prime Minister of Thailand from 2014 to 2023 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Prayut Chan-o-cha (sometimes spelled Prayuth Chan-ocha; Thai: ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา, pronounced [prā.jút tɕān.ʔōː.tɕʰāː] ⓘ; born 21 March 1954) is a Thai former politician and military officer.[1] He became the 29th prime minister of Thailand after he seized power in the 2014 military coup and served until 2023. He was concurrently the minister of defence in his own government from 2019 to 2023.[2] Prayut served as commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2010 to 2014[3][4] and led the 2014 Thai coup d'état which installed the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta which governed Thailand between 22 May 2014 and 10 July 2019.[5]
Prayut Chan-o-cha | |
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ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา | |
![]() Prayut in 2019 | |
Privy Councillor | |
Assumed office 29 November 2023 | |
Monarch | Vajiralongkorn |
29th Prime Minister of Thailand | |
In office 24 August 2014 – 22 August 2023[note 1] | |
Monarchs | Bhumibol Adulyadej Vajiralongkorn |
Deputy | |
Preceded by | Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (acting) |
Succeeded by | Srettha Thavisin |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 10 July 2019 – 1 September 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Himself |
Preceded by | Prawit Wongsuwan |
Succeeded by | Sutin Klungsang |
Leader of the National Council for Peace and Order | |
In office 22 May 2014 – 16 July 2019[note 2] | |
Deputy | See list
|
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army | |
In office 1 October 2010 – 30 September 2014 | |
Preceded by | Anupong Paochinda |
Succeeded by | Udomdej Sitabutr |
Personal details | |
Born | (1954-03-21) 21 March 1954 (age 70) Camp Suranaree, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand |
Political party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | Palang Pracharath (2019–2022)[lower-alpha 1] United Thai Nation (2023) |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Education | Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy |
Signature (English) | ![]() |
Signature | ![]() |
Nickname | Tuu (ตู่) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1976–2014 |
Rank | General |
Commands |
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Battles/wars | |
Awards |
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After his appointment as army chief in 2010, Prayut was characterised as a royalist and an opponent of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.[6] Considered a hardliner within the military, he was one of the leading proponents of military crackdowns on the Red Shirt demonstrations of April 2009 and April–May 2010.[7][8] He later sought to moderate his profile, talking to relatives of protesters who were killed in the bloody conflict[9] and cooperating with the government of Yingluck Shinawatra,[10] who won parliamentary elections in July 2011.
During the political crisis that began in November 2013 and involved protests against the caretaker government of Yingluck, Prayut claimed that the army was neutral[11] and would not launch a coup. However, in May 2014, Prayut launched a military coup against the government and assumed control of the country as dictator and leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, a military junta.[12] He later issued an interim constitution, granting himself sweeping powers and giving himself amnesty for staging the coup.[13] In August 2014, an unelected military-dominated national legislature appointed him Prime Minister of Thailand.[14][15]
Prayut led an authoritarian regime in Thailand.[16] After seizing power, Prayut's government oversaw a significant crackdown on dissent.[17] He formulated "twelve values" based on traditional Thai values and suggested that these be included in school lessons.[18][19][20] Measures were implemented to limit public discussions about democracy and criticism of the government, including increases in Internet and media censorship.[21] Prayut was elected as Prime Minister following the disputed 2019 general election, after having ruled as an unelected strongman since 2014.[22] Following the results for United Thai Nation which finished 3rd in the 2023 general election, Prayut announced his retirement from politics, serving in a caretaker position until the National Assembly voted for a new Prime Minister on 22 August.[23][24] He was succeeded by Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party, after nine years in power.
After his political retirement, Prayut was appointed a Privy Councilor on 29 November in the same year.[25]