The secretariat of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has forwarded the nomination of Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister to the Office of His Majesty′s Principal Private Secretary for a royal command to officially appoint him to the post.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, centre, visits the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chon Buri province on Thursday, when the National Legislative Assembly voted for him to become prime minister. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
The move followed the 191-0 vote with three abstentions of assembly members on Thursday to approve his nomination for prim minister. He was the sole candidate.
Senate secretary-general Norarat Pimsen, who is the acting NLA secretary-general, said the Senate Secretariat had check the qualifications of Gen Prayuth, who is also chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), before seeking a royal appointment.
On receiving the royal command, Gen Prayuth will become Thailand's 29th prime minister.
Altogether 194 of the existing 197 NLA members signed in to attend Thursday's meeting to vote on the prime minister.
After NLA president Pornpetch Wichilcholachai explained the procedures, Tuang Intachai, an NLA member, nominated Gen Prayuth for the prime minister's post. The nomination was seconded by 188 members, far more than the required one-fifth of the 197 currently sitting on the NLA.
NLA members subsequently voted in a roll-call.
Of the 194 members present, 191 voted to approve the nomination without opposition. The three abstentions were the NLA president and the two vice-presidents.
Mr Pornpetch adjourned the meeting after announcing the result of the vote.
The army chief was on a visit to the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chon Buri province when the NLA picked him to be the prime minister.
Gen Prayuth said in the eastern province that he wouldn't make any moves until he is officially named prime minister after the royal endorsement.
However, once in office, he promised his cabinet would strictly adhere to the agenda and timeline set by the NCPO.
The junta's road map requires comprehensive reforms before any new general election is called. The military regime earlier said it expected new polls to be held in late 2015.
Gen Prayuth was born on March 21, 1954 in Nakhon Ratchasima province. He was in Class 23 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and hasz been army chief since Oct 1, 2011.
The army chief was flanked by other armed forces and police chiefs when he declared a military coup on May 22.