Army Chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha is likely to be the sole candidate for the premiership when the 197-strong appointed assembly convenes on Thursday to select a new leader for the Southeast Asian country, the sources told AFP.
"It was difficult to find people to become prime minister other than General Prayut. If it's not him, who else should it be?" one junta official said on condition of anonymity.
Another member of the junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said Prayut was set to be chosen because he is "suitable for the job."
"According to polls, he enjoys public popularity and people also admire the NCPO's work," said the source, who also asked not to be named.
Prayut seized power from an elected government in a bloodless coup on May 22, shortly after Yingluck Shinawatra was dismissed as prime minister in a controversial court ruling.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
