The rise of military junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha to the premiership marks the pinnacle of achievement for the influential Burapha Payak (Tigers of the East ) military clique as the general could remain at the national helm for at least two years.
For a coup leader to fill the premier's seat is also unprecedented. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) does not want to repeat the mistakes of past military coups which installed figures who had no power over prime ministers, according to a highly placed source in the army.
Gen Prayuth was "marked" for the prime minister's post even before the May 22 coup which toppled the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, the source said.
The NCPO figures agreed they needed someone from within their ranks to run the country, having learnt from the blunders of the past.
In 1991, Anand Panyarachun was appointed prime minister by the National Peace-Keeping Council which drove Gen Chatichai Choonhavan from power. After the 2006 coup engineered by then army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, retired Gen Prayuth Chulanont was named prime minister.
The source said the coup-makers were unable to keep the governments functioning effectively under the leadership of people outside their own circles.
This time, the source said, the NCPO figured it must have sufficient authority over the government and choose Gen Prayuth to become prime minister.
Gen Prayuth, whose mandatory retirement is due at the end of next month, may stay on as premier for two years, twice as long as the tentative timeframe set by the NCPO for the post-coup government's tenure.
The source said one year may not be enough for the many tasks the NCPO has set out to accomplish, including comprehensive national reforms.
Gen Prayuth stands to wear many hats at the same time; that of the prime minister, of the NCPO chief, and of the army commander. As premier, he must also lead the NCPO to ensure the government and the council work on the same page in delivering policies.
Many top brass in the NCPO are also expected to take up key posts in the cabinet that should soon be formed.
Gen Prayuth comes from a long line of powerful Burapha Payak generals who have led the army and charted the course for the country for many years now.
The clique is based at the 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard, in Prachin Buri and counts the likes of former army chiefs Prawit Wongsuwon and Anupong Paojinda as its members.
Gen Anupong was 1st Region Army commander when he led troops that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.
His promotion to army chief later saw the Burapha Payak members, including Gen Prayuth, holding key positions in the army. Gen Prayuth rose through the ranks and replaced Gen Anupong as army chief in late 2010.
Gen Prawit, Gen Anupong and Gen Prayuth were thought to be instrumental in the switch of government from the one led by the People Power Party to the Democrats. A group of MPs headed by Newin Chidchob had broken away and subsequently helped set up, reportedly with the nod of the generals, a new government led by the Democrats.
Gen Prawit was made defence minister in the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
The three generals have been viewed as having ties to the Democrats and its former secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who has since quit the party and become secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee which protested against the previous Yingluck Shinawatra government for six months before it dispersed in the wake of the May 22 coup.
Gen Prayuth yesterday refused to comment on his upcoming role as the country's 29th prime minister, saying he would rather keep quiet until his appointment is endorsed by a royal command.
When asked by if he was up for the premier's job, he raised his fist in the air.