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His
announcement was widely expected after his military-backed
United Thai Nation party was thumped in a May 14 election, in
which it won just 36 of the 500 house seats. He will remain
caretaker premier until a new government is formed.
The former army chief, a staunch royalist, led a junta until an
election in 2019 and was chosen by parliament to remain prime
minister for four more years, an outcome his opponents insist
was pre-determined.
Prayuth, 69, has denied that and on Tuesday said he had
"achieved many successes".
"I as prime minister have worked hard to protect the nation,
religion, monarchy for the benefit of the beloved people. The
result is currently bearing fruit for the public," he said in a
statement.
"I have tried to strengthen the country in all areas for
stability and peace and overcame many obstacles domestically and
internationally." I
In the nine years since his coup, Prayuth has survived multiple
challenges via court cases, house confidence votes and street
protests by opponents who saw him as an opportunist who lacked a
public mandate.
His announcement comes as the new parliament prepares to convene
on Thursday to hold a vote on who will be the next prime
minister, an outcome far from certain.
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing
by Kanupriya Kapoor)
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