BANGKOK, Dec 23 — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha today announced that he has joined Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (United Thai Nation) to run in a general election due to be held before May next year.
While his eight-year term limit as Prime Minister ends in 2025, Prayuth is seeking another term in the upcoming general election.
“I have been considering joining Ruam Thai Sang Chart party for a while… I finally decided to join the party.
“The party will nominate me in becoming the sole prime minister candidate in the next election,” he told reporters outside the Government House in Bangkok today.
Prayuth, who came to power as army chief in a 2014 coup, said he decided to run in the election because there are still several unfinished projects initiated by his government.
“I would like to continue and finish the projects,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prayuth said he has informed the leader of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) Prawit Wongsuwan of his decision to join Ruam Thai Sang Chart.
Earlier, PPRP announced that Prawit will be the party's candidate in the next election.
“There is no conflict between us… Our relations remain strong,” said Prayuth.
If Prayuth wins and gets elected as the next prime minister, his tenure will be limited to just two years.
In September, the Constitutional Court ruled that Prayuth is eligible to remain in office until 2025.
The Court ruled that he had been premier since 2017 when the current constitution that bars a person from serving as prime minister beyond eight years became effective.
Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party was formed in March and is being led by former Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.
— Bernama
