Thailand’s military ruler is on the back foot
Despite winning power in a coup, Prayuth Chan-ocha cannot entirely escape democratic pressures
Pity the poor coup leader. Prayuth Chan-ocha, a 68-year-old former general who declared himself Thailand’s prime minister, continues to be dogged by the messy politics he intended to abolish when he seized power from an elected government in 2014. First Mr Prayuth ruled by diktat. Then, in 2019, he sought a veneer of legitimacy by allowing elections. When a party critical of military rule performed annoyingly better than the authorities expected, it was dissolved and its charismatic leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, charged with lèse-majesté.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “General unease”
Asia June 18th 2022
From the June 18th 2022 edition
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