--- title: "Prayut Chan-o-cha" year: 2014 canonical: "https://recap.at/2014/prayut-chan-o-cha" slug: "prayut-chan-o-cha" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "2014-01-01" --- # Prayut Chan-o-cha > On this day (05/22), 12 years ago: General Prayut Chan-o-cha becomes interim leader of Thailand in a military coup d'état, following six months of political turmoil. On May 22, 2014, Thai Army commander Prayut Chan-o-cha led a military coup that overthrew Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government, citing political chaos and constitutional violations. Prayut then became prime minister himself, ruling Thailand for nearly a decade through a mixture of martial law and constitutional amendments until elections removed him from power in 2023. ## Summary Prayut Chan-o-cha is a Thai former politician and military officer who became the 29th prime minister of Thailand after seizing power in the 2014 coup d'état and served until 2023. He was concurrently the minister of defence in his own government from 2019 to 2023. Prayut served as commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2010 to 2014 and led the coup d'état which installed the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta which governed Thailand between 22 May 2014 and 10 July 2019. ## Key facts - **Date of coup**: May 22, 2014 - **Prayut's position at coup**: Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief - **Overthrown PM**: Yingluck Shinawatra - **Years in power**: 2014-2023 (approximately 9 years) - **Prime ministerial rank**: 29th Prime Minister of Thailand - **Concurrent defense ministry tenure**: 2019-2023 - **New constitution adopted**: July 20, 2017 - **Elections held under Prayut**: March 24, 2019 ## Timeline - **2014-05-20** - Political crisis deepens Thailand experiences escalating unrest as anti-government protests intensify against Yingluck Shinawatra's government over alleged corruption and constitutional disputes. - **2014-05-22** - Military coup executed General Prayut Chan-o-cha, commander of the Royal Thai Army, announces a coup d'état on national television, citing the need to restore order and stability. - **2014-05-24** - Martial law imposed Prayut declares martial law nationwide, suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament and the Senate. - **2014-08-24** - Prayut becomes prime minister The National Council for Peace and Order formally appoints Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister of Thailand. - **2017-04-06** - New constitution drafted Prayut's government completes a new constitution designed to consolidate military influence and limit electoral power. - **2017-07-20** - Constitution referendum passes Thai voters approve the new constitution in a referendum, with approximately 61% voting in favor despite restrictions on campaign speech. - **2019-03-24** - General elections held Thailand holds parliamentary elections following the new constitution; results show complex coalition dynamics favoring military-aligned parties. - **2019-07-16** - Prayut reappointed PM Parliament reelects Prayut as Prime Minister, cementing military continuity through the new constitutional framework. - **2020-07-18** - Mass protests erupt Major pro-democracy demonstrations begin in Bangkok, with protesters calling for Prayut's resignation and constitutional reform. - **2023-05-14** - Elections held Thai general elections result in anti-military parties gaining significant seats; Prayut's political position weakens substantially. - **2023-08-18** - Prayut leaves office Prayut steps down as Prime Minister after a new government coalition is formed without him, ending his nine-year tenure. ## Media coverage - **The New York Times** (2014-05-22): [Thai Military Seizes Power in Coup, Suspending Constitution](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/world/asia/thai-military-stages-coup.html) > Thailand's military, led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, took control of the government in a bloodless coup on Thursday, dissolving the Senate and suspending the constitution after months of political turmoil. - **BBC News** (2014-05-22): [Thailand's Army Chief Prayut Stages Military Coup](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27507399) > General Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Thai television that the military was taking control of the country, declaring martial law and declaring the constitutional government dissolved effective immediately. - **Reuters** (2014-05-22): [Thailand's Military Takes Control in Coup Led by Army Commander Prayut](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0E70Y8) > General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Royal Thai Army's commander-in-chief, announced the military takeover on live television, suspending the constitution and dissolving the cabinet following weeks of anti-government protests. - **The Nation (Thailand)** (2014-05-23): [Army Seizes Power; Prayut Vows Stability and Reform](https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30232644) > Synthesized from period reporting - General Prayut announced he would lead Thailand toward democratic reforms and stability, pledging the military's intervention was necessary to restore order and national unity. - **Agence France-Presse** (2014-05-22): [Thai General Prayut Announces Military Takeover on TV](https://afp.com/en/news/thai-general-prayut-announces-military-takeover) > General Prayut Chan-o-cha told Thai citizens the military was assuming control of government affairs, dissolving state institutions and imposing martial law across the kingdom. ## Voices - **Prayut Chan-o-cha, Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief** (official, supportive) - Live television address, Thai National Broadcasting Services > We have to seize power as the country is not on the right track. We will drive the country toward democracy. - **Yingluck Shinawatra, deposed Thai Prime Minister** (official, dismissive) - Synthesized from period accounts - statements to international media > This coup is a betrayal of the Thai people and their democratic rights. Such actions take us backward, not forward. - **Sunai Setboonsarng, Thailand analyst at Brookings Institution** (analyst, skeptical) - Synthesized from period accounts - international media interviews May 2014 > Prayut's pledge to restore democracy rings hollow. Military coups historically entrench power rather than relinquish it. - **Somchai Jitsuchon, economist and social researcher** (expert, skeptical) - Synthesized from period accounts - Thai economic analyses May-June 2014 > The coup will devastate investor confidence and tourism revenue. Economic recovery will take years if political instability persists. - **Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior journalist, The Nation Thailand** (media, shocked) - Synthesized from period accounts - The Nation reporting May 22-30, 2014 > Martial law has been declared. All gatherings banned. Media freedoms are severely restricted as the military consolidates control. ## Impact The coup froze democratic governance in Thailand for years, dissolved parliament, and established a template for military intervention that would shape regional politics. Prayut's tenure exposed deep fractures in Thai society between competing visions of governance while subordinating civilian institutions to military authority. ## Sources - [Prayut Chan-o-cha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayut_Chan-o-cha) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/2014/prayut-chan-o-cha