THE ruling party named Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan (pic) as its candidate to be premier in the kingdom’s upcoming general election.
The army-backed Palang Pracharath Party gave the 77-year-old former army chief the nod as unofficial campaigning gathers momentum – although no polling date has yet been announced.
Prawit will run against incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who earlier this month announced he would lead the campaign for the recently created United Thai Nation party.
The main opposition party, Pheu Thai, is expected to name Paetongtarn Shinawatra – daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra – as one of its candidates for prime minister.
Billionaire tycoon Thaksin, ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup, lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid corruption charges he said are politically motivated. — AFP
