After a landslide defeat in the 14th of May elections, Prayuth Chan-Ocha has stepped down as Prime Minister of Thailand. The former army chief, a staunch royalist, held the position of Prime Minister since 2019. He had been chosen by Parliament to remain in office for four more years, an outcome his opponents insist was pre-determined. In a statement announcing his departure, Prayuth said that he had “achieved many successes” during his tenure as Prime Minister.

He claimed to have “worked hard to protect the nation, religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people.” He further noted that he had tried to strengthen the country in all areas for stability and peace and overcome many obstacles domestically and internationally. The results of Prayuth’s efforts are now bearing fruit, with the new Parliament convening on Thursday to vote on the new Prime Minister. In the nine years since his coup, Prayuth has managed to survive multiple challenges via court cases, house confidence votes, and street protests by those who saw him as an opportunist lacking public mandate.

AP: Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who served almost nine years in office after seizing power in a 2014 military coup, said Tuesday that he is leaving politics. pic.twitter.com/eyXMV3sgcV

— Shahid Anwar (@UltimatumArmada) July 11, 2023

The election of 14th May was a major shift in the political landscape of Thailand, with Prayuth’s United Thai Nation party winning only 36 of the 500 seats in the House. This was a significant blow to the Prime Minister, who had maintained a firm grip on power since his coup in 2011. The election of a new Prime Minister is sure to be a cause of great excitement for the Thai people. With a new leader and a new era in Thai politics, it is clear that the country is heading in a new direction, one that will be determined by the people. The departure of Prayuth marks the end of an era in Thai politics. After nine years in power, the former army chief has finally stepped down and the country can move forward with a new leader. Though Prayuth and his party have had their share of successes, it is clear that the future of Thai politics lies in the hands of the people.