Pheu Thai Party list-MP Prayuth Siripanich has been in the limelight following his proposal to amend the Defence Ministry Administration Act, aiming to reduce the military's power to conduct coups d'etat.
Mr Prayuth's bill is one of three -- the other two were proposed earlier by the People's Party and former defence minister Sutin Klungsaeng. The bill proposed by Mr Prayuth is now open to public opinion on parliament's website until Jan 1.
Mr Prayuth is known as a bold and decisive politician who refuses to back down and continuously moves forward with his plans.
However, this proposal may cause tensions between Pheu Thai and the military, as well as among coalition parties or even among members of the party.
On Oct 18, 2013, when Yingluck Shinawatra was prime minister, Mr Prayuth, as deputy chairman of the House committee on reviewing the amnesty bill, proposed amending Article 3 to grant amnesty to individuals involved in political gatherings, conflicts or those accused of wrongdoing by groups established after the coup from Sept 19, 2006, to Aug 8, 2013, regardless of whether they acted as perpetrators, supporters or leaders.
The proposed version faced strong opposition from political opponents, who argued it was designed to benefit former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been living in self-imposed exile since 2008.
The amnesty bill at that time escalated tensions, sparking widespread dissatisfaction among various factions and leading to people taking to the streets. Yingluck later announced the dissolution of parliament in 2013.
This event was a catalyst for the political crisis that led to the military coup by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2014.
Mr Prayuth has been in Thai politics for a long time. Born on Sept 30, 1945, in Maha Sarakham, he gained a bachelor's degree in law from Ramkhamhaeng University.
He has served as an MP for Maha Sarakham for eight terms since 1979. He once held the position of secretary-general of the Social Action Party under the leadership of the late Montri Pongpanich.
He also held ministerial positions in several governments.
In 2010, Mr Prayuth was chosen as deputy leader of Pheu Thai. In April 2011, he resigned from this role along with several other executive committee members.
During the Yingluck government, he was made an adviser to deputy premier Plodprasop Suraswadi.