PM Prayuth Courted To Join New Party Later This Month

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha may join the newly created Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (RTSCP) after the APEC summit this month, an unidentified party source told the Bangkok Post.

• The source suggested that the party is courting Prayuth to join its ranks and is "confident the Prime Minister will join the party after the conclusion of APEC."
• If Prayuth joins the RTSCP, "his military image will take a back seat to his prominent role as a politician," the Bangkok Post's source said.
• Speculation that Prayuth could join the RTSCP was doing the rounds recently, albeit the Prime Minister refused to comment on the rumours when approached by reporters this week.
• Prayuth started his current term in office after the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) nominated him as its outsider prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 general election.
• There has been speculation that the PPRP could replace Prayuth with party leader Prawit after multiple political tests left the Premier weakened.