Thailand PM Prayuth Nominates UTN's Pirapan As His Designated Successor

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha told reporters on Monday that if he returns as head of government in the wake of the May 14 general election, he will tap United Thai Nation (UTN) party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga to succeed him in 2025.

• The Constitutional Court last year ruled that Prayuth will only be able to stay in office until 2025 due to an eight-year limit on the Prime minister's term in office. The legal dispute over the expiry of Prayuth's term saw him briefly suspended as Prime Minister last September before the top judicial body issued its verdict.
• "If I were to be Prime Minister again, my time would run out in two years," the Bangkok Post cited Prayuth as saying. "After that, I wish that Mr Pirapan, the party leader and second prime ministerial candidate, would succeed me. I have more than 100% confidence in him."
• The next Thai Prime Minister will be appointed by a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament after the upcoming general election. The Prime Minister needs to secure the backing of an absolute majority of lawmakers from the 500-member elected House of Representatives and 250-member military-appointed Senate.