Pheu Thai In Talks With Potential PM Candidate, Army Chief Vows Not To Launch Coup

Businessman Srettha Thavisin has emerged as a potential candidate for the main opposition Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial nominee in the next general election, the Bangkok Post reports. This was relayed by a party source, who added that another potential candidate is Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin.

• Under the constitutional rules, each party can nominate three prime ministerial candidates. Paetongtarn's name has been doing the rounds for some time due to her popularity, particularly among voters in the northeast.
• The source interviewed by the Bangkok Post cited speculation that Prime Minister Prayuth could dissolve the lower house after the APEC summit which will take place in Bangkok next month. If parliament is allowed to serve out its term, the election has to be held by May 2023.
• Thailand's Chief of Defence Forces Chalermpol Srisawat told reporters that the military would not state a coup after the next general election, regardless of the outcome. The current administration first took power in 2014 as the army ousted a Pheu Thai government.