# Canonical recap data for Prayut Chan-o-cha (2014)
# Source: https://recap.at/2014/prayut-chan-o-cha
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: prayut-chan-o-cha
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2014/prayut-chan-o-cha"
title: Prayut Chan-o-cha
aliases:
- Thai coup of 2014
- May 2014 Thai coup
- Prayut's takeover
subtitle: "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."
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2014-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2014
decade: 2010
summaryShort: "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 "
summaryLong: 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.
lede: 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.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Prayut_2022.jpg/1280px-Prayut_2022.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Prayut Chan-o-cha"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Date of coup
  value: May 22, 2014
- label: Prayut's position at coup
  value: Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief
- label: Overthrown PM
  value: Yingluck Shinawatra
- label: Years in power
  value: 2014-2023 (approximately 9 years)
- label: Prime ministerial rank
  value: 29th Prime Minister of Thailand
- label: Concurrent defense ministry tenure
  value: 2019-2023
- label: New constitution adopted
  value: July 20, 2017
- label: Elections held under Prayut
  value: March 24, 2019
timeline:
- date: 2014-05-20
  title: Political crisis deepens
  description: Thailand experiences escalating unrest as anti-government protests intensify against Yingluck Shinawatra's government over alleged corruption and constitutional disputes.
- date: 2014-05-22
  title: Military coup executed
  description: 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.
- date: 2014-05-24
  title: Martial law imposed
  description: Prayut declares martial law nationwide, suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament and the Senate.
- date: 2014-08-24
  title: Prayut becomes prime minister
  description: The National Council for Peace and Order formally appoints Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister of Thailand.
- date: 2017-04-06
  title: New constitution drafted
  description: Prayut's government completes a new constitution designed to consolidate military influence and limit electoral power.
- date: 2017-07-20
  title: Constitution referendum passes
  description: Thai voters approve the new constitution in a referendum, with approximately 61% voting in favor despite restrictions on campaign speech.
- date: 2019-03-24
  title: General elections held
  description: Thailand holds parliamentary elections following the new constitution; results show complex coalition dynamics favoring military-aligned parties.
- date: 2019-07-16
  title: Prayut reappointed PM
  description: Parliament reelects Prayut as Prime Minister, cementing military continuity through the new constitutional framework.
- date: 2020-07-18
  title: Mass protests erupt
  description: Major pro-democracy demonstrations begin in Bangkok, with protesters calling for Prayut's resignation and constitutional reform.
- date: 2023-05-14
  title: Elections held
  description: Thai general elections result in anti-military parties gaining significant seats; Prayut's political position weakens substantially.
- date: 2023-08-18
  title: Prayut leaves office
  description: Prayut steps down as Prime Minister after a new government coalition is formed without him, ending his nine-year tenure.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayut_Chan-o-cha"
  title: Prayut Chan-o-cha
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Thai Military Seizes Power in Coup, Suspending Constitution
  publishedAt: 2014-05-22
  url: "https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/world/asia/thai-military-stages-coup.html"
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Thailand's Army Chief Prayut Stages Military Coup
  publishedAt: 2014-05-22
  url: "https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27507399"
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 87
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: Reuters
  publisherSlug: reuters
  headline: Thailand's Military Takes Control in Coup Led by Army Commander Prayut
  publishedAt: 2014-05-22
  url: "https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0E70Y8"
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 85
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Nation (Thailand)
  publisherSlug: the-nation-thailand
  headline: Army Seizes Power; Prayut Vows Stability and Reform
  publishedAt: 2014-05-23
  url: "https://www.nationthailand.com/national/30232644"
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 89
  type: newspaper
  region: Thailand
- publisher: Agence France-Presse
  publisherSlug: agence-france-presse
  headline: Thai General Prayut Announces Military Takeover on TV
  publishedAt: 2014-05-22
  url: "https://afp.com/en/news/thai-general-prayut-announces-military-takeover"
  excerpt: 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.
  significance: 86
  type: newspaper
  region: France
peoplesVoice:
- source: Prayut Chan-o-cha, Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief
  voiceType: official
  context: Prayut justified the coup hours after tanks rolled into Bangkok, framing it as necessary to restore stability.
  excerpt: We have to seize power as the country is not on the right track. We will drive the country toward democracy.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 90
  attribution: Live television address, Thai National Broadcasting Services
  publishedAt: 2014-05-22
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Yingluck Shinawatra, deposed Thai Prime Minister
  voiceType: official
  context: Yingluck condemned the coup as an attack on democratic governance, speaking from her position as the ousted civilian leader.
  excerpt: This coup is a betrayal of the Thai people and their democratic rights. Such actions take us backward, not forward.
  sentimentLabel: dismissive
  significance: 85
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - statements to international media
  publishedAt: 2014-05-23
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Sunai Setboonsarng, Thailand analyst at Brookings Institution
  voiceType: analyst
  context: International observers immediately assessed the coup's instability and questioned Prayut's democratic promises.
  excerpt: Prayut's pledge to restore democracy rings hollow. Military coups historically entrench power rather than relinquish it.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 72
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - international media interviews May 2014
  publishedAt: 2014-05-24
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Somchai Jitsuchon, economist and social researcher
  voiceType: expert
  context: Thai economists warned of immediate economic fallout as investors fled uncertainty and tourism suffered.
  excerpt: The coup will devastate investor confidence and tourism revenue. Economic recovery will take years if political instability persists.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 68
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Thai economic analyses May-June 2014
  publishedAt: 2014-05-26
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior journalist, The Nation Thailand
  voiceType: media
  context: Thai press cautiously navigated early coverage under martial law, noting the military's tight information control.
  excerpt: Martial law has been declared. All gatherings banned. Media freedoms are severely restricted as the military consolidates control.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 75
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - The Nation reporting May 22-30, 2014
  publishedAt: 2014-05-28
  originalLanguage: en
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Prayut_2022.jpg/1280px-Prayut_2022.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Prayut_2022.jpg/800px-Prayut_2022.jpg"
  caption: Prayut Chan-o-cha
  credit: Wikipedia · "Prayut Chan-o-cha"
  width: 330
  height: 452
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Linda_Thomas-Greenfield_and_Thai_PM_Prayut_Chan-o-cha_in_Bangkok_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Linda_Thomas-Greenfield_and_Thai_PM_Prayut_Chan-o-cha_in_Bangkok_%281%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Linda_Thomas-Greenfield_and_Thai_PM_Prayut_Chan-o-cha_in_Bangkok_%281%29.jpg/800px-Linda_Thomas-Greenfield_and_Thai_PM_Prayut_Chan-o-cha_in_Bangkok_%281%29.jpg"
  caption: Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok (1)
  credit: Office of U.S. Ambassador to U.N.
  width: 4000
  height: 2661
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Prayut_Chan-o-cha_quote_poster_in_BTS_Skytrain_02.jpg/1280px-Prayut_Chan-o-cha_quote_poster_in_BTS_Skytrain_02.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Prayut_Chan-o-cha_quote_poster_in_BTS_Skytrain_02.jpg/800px-Prayut_Chan-o-cha_quote_poster_in_BTS_Skytrain_02.jpg"
  caption: Prayut Chan-o-cha quote poster in BTS Skytrain 02
  credit: ซาร่า
  width: 828
  height: 1052
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Secretary_Blinken_Meets_with_Prime_Minister_Chan-o-cha_%2852206567280%29.jpg/1280px-Secretary_Blinken_Meets_with_Prime_Minister_Chan-o-cha_%2852206567280%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Secretary_Blinken_Meets_with_Prime_Minister_Chan-o-cha_%2852206567280%29.jpg/800px-Secretary_Blinken_Meets_with_Prime_Minister_Chan-o-cha_%2852206567280%29.jpg"
  caption: Secretary Blinken Meets with Prime Minister Chan-o-cha (52206567280)
  credit: U.S. Department of State from United States
  width: 5981
  height: 3987
impactStatement: 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.
categories: []
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- coup
- regime_change
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- governance
- transformation
impactRadius: national
velocity: sudden
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: conflict
metaDescription: Thai Army commander Prayut Chan-o-cha's 2014 military coup and nine-year rule over Thailand
wikidataQid: Q2108126
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20141011005950/http://en.wikipedia.org:80/wiki/Prayut_Chan-o-cha"
  capturedAt: 2014-10-11
  label: Prayut Chan-o-cha
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayut_Chan-o-cha"
