His Majesty the King has appointed former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as a privy councillor, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette published on Wednesday.
The announcement, which was dated Oct 21, said His Majesty the King has decided to exercise his authority under sections 10 and 11 of the 2017 Constitution to appoint Gen Prayut as a member of his privy council, effective immediately.
Gen Prayut, 69, was the country's 29th prime minister.
Since 1932, Thailand has had 30 prime ministers, only five of whom were appointed to the council, which serves as an advisory body to the King, namely Sanya Dharmasakti, Prem Tinsulanonda, Thanin Kraivichien, Surayud Chulanont and Gen Prayut.
In the lead-up to the May 14 election this year, the former army commander-in-chief and leader of the May 22, 2014 coup was named the prime ministerial candidate for the newly founded United Thai Nation (UTN) Party.
He was succeeded as prime minister in August by real estate tycoon and newcomer to politics Srettha Thavisin, from the Pheu Thai Party. Before stepping down, Gen Prayut announced his decision to leave politics after nine years in power.
As the current constitution allows the council to have one president and at most 18 councillors, the appointment of Gen Prayut has made the Privy Council a full team again, said a source.
The incumbent president of the council is Gen Surayud, who was appointed to the top position on May 27, 2019, following the passing of Gen Prem, the former privy council president.
UTN leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga also congratulated Gen Prayut on his new appointment, saying the position is important not only to Gen Prayut but also to the country's three core institutions -- nation, religion and monarchy.
Gen Prayut yesterday responded to a congratulatory message from Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a list-MP of the UTN, by saying: "Thank you. And please help me work to protect the nation.