Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is confident that a civilian, pro-military government he formed in the middle of this year after five years of junta rule can complete its four-year term.
But the former army chief and coup leader must deal with various veteran politicians in the 19 parties that form the coalition government while navigating an uncertain political landscape involving the second-largest opposition party as it faces the possibility of a court-ordered dissolution.
In the long-delayed March 24 election to restore civilian government, the Palang Pracharath Party, which chose Prayut as its prime ministerial candidate, came in second with 116 seats but managed to form the coalition government with 18 smaller parties.