Thai PM declares candidacy in next year’s election

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is to seek another term in a general election due to be held in the kingdom before May next year, he told local media yesterday.

Prayut came to power as army chief in a 2014 coup before cementing his position in a controversial 2019 election, but his popularity has been in the doldrums.

The newly-created United Thai Nation Party "has offered to support me in becoming the next PM candidate in the next election," he told reporters outside Government House in Bangkok.

"I will make it clear today... that I have decided that I will join the role."

Prayut had been widely expected to leave his Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which leads the ruling coalition.