MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - The National Assembly of Thailand, which was created by the country’s military government, has elected General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, as the country’s new prime minister, Reuters reports.
The Thai army seized power during a coup on May 22, following months of “antidemocratic” opposition protests that had paralyzed the activity of the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. In July, work began on creating an interim government agency that would operate during the so called “period of reform” declared by the military that could last till the middle of 2015. Afterwards the country “will return to true democracy,” the military assures.
In addition to the new parliament, where 110 out of 200 seats belong to the military, a provisional government is being created that will be headed by General Chan-ocha: the National Council on Reform. It will develop and implement the reform of the political and electoral systems of Thailand; meanwhile, a constitutional assembly will develop a new “permanent” constitution. The military did not elaborate on whether they intend to hold a popular vote on the confirmation of a new constitution. None of the new interim government agencies created by the military are led by elected officials
