Thai PM says brother could be new army chief

Thailand’s junta leader <g data-gr-id="15">Prayut</g> Chan-O-Cha has said he may appoint his brother as the country’s next army chief, one of the most powerful jobs in the coup-prone kingdom.

<g data-gr-id="16">Prayut</g>, who is now PM, was the army chief last May when he seized power from an elected government which opponents had decried as corrupt and nepotistic. He defended the consideration of his sibling Preecha Chan-O-Cha, currently serving as an assistant army chief, for the top job. 

Thailand’s defence ministry is shortly due to submit its recommended candidate for the job with <g data-gr-id="18">Prayut’s</g> endorsement for Preecha and the other assistant army chief, Teerachai <g data-gr-id="19">Nakvanich</g>, the only two applicants. “Why is it a problem that he is my younger brother?” Prayut told reporters in Bangkok yesterday when asked about the possibility of his sibling winning the role.

The position is pivotal in a country where the army plays a key political role –Thailand has seen long stretches of military rule with 19 successful or attempted coups.