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Thai military talks up Prayuth as potential PM

BANGKOK — Thai military leaders yesterday talked up General Prayuth Chan-ocha as a potential Prime Minister in a temporary government to be set up shortly, a day after a provisional charter was endorsed by head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

BANGKOK — Thai military leaders yesterday talked up General Prayuth Chan-ocha as a potential Prime Minister in a temporary government to be set up shortly, a day after a provisional charter was endorsed by head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The document is the first step towards restoring electoral democracy in Thailand, following a coup in May which the military said it carried out to restore order after months of political turmoil as protesters tried to topple the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Yingluck was forced to step down on May 7 after being found guilty of abuse of power by the Constitutional Court. The remainder of her Cabinet was ousted in the coup two weeks later. The junta tore up the old Constitution and the provisional charter allowed the appointment of a Parliament, the National Legislative Assembly, which will nominate a new Prime Minister.

Asked at a news conference whether Gen Prayuth would continue as leader under the interim charter, Dr Wissanu Krea-ngam, a legal adviser to the junta, said: “The Constitution allows it, but whether he is appointed or not is down to the National Legislative Assembly.”

General Paiboon Koomchaya, in charge of legal affairs for the junta, suggested Gen Prayuth could do the job perfectly. “I don’t (think) he has any flaws in performing his duties. As of now, he is already performing the duties of a Prime Minister. For the past two months, he has been sitting at the head of the table at every meeting and the administration of the country has gone smoothly during these two months,” Gen Paiboon said.

The new 48-article charter lays out the process by which a new permanent Constitution will be drafted and adopted. The military will remain in charge of national security alongside the incoming provisional government and Gen Paiboon said martial law, imposed on May 20, would remain in force.

“It is still necessary for the peace and safety of our country,” he said.

Mr Wissanu said the interim Constitution would probably be in force for around a year, after which a new Constitution would take effect and elections then held under its provisions. Gen Prayuth has said a general election could be held late next year.

While the interim Charter gives the military rulers almost supreme authority over politics, Mr Wissanu said yesterday that the military would handle only peacekeeping and security matters. “There are not any provisions in the interim charter that give the power for the National Council for Peace and Order to oust the Cabinet or the Prime Minister, as people alleged,’’ he said, referring to the junta. AGENCIES

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