Gen Prayuth, 60, was nominated on Thursday in a legislature hand-picked by the junta and made up of mostly military and police figures.

 

The general was the head of the army when he led a dramatic coup in May.

 

It followed months of intense political deadlock⁵ between Yingluck Shinawatra's government and opposition⁶ parties that resulted in protests and clashes.

 

Gen Prayuth was chosen after all 197 members of Thailand's National Assembly cast their votes on Thursday morning.

 

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the vote in Parliament was little more than a formality, lasting⁷ just 15 minutes, as Gen Prayuth was the only candidate.

 

The assembly's choice is expected to be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej later.

 

The vote in that ushered⁸ in Thailand's 29th Prime Minister was the kind of rushed acclamation favoured by dictatorships and communist parties of old. In just 15 minutes, 191 out of 194 assembly members approved General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who was the only candidate.

 

As some pointed⁹ out before the vote, the general now exercises such complete grip on power there was not much point in considering anyone else. Fittingly, Gen Prayuth was not in parliament for the vote - instead he was attending a ceremony at his old regiment¹⁰, whose alumni（男校友） form the core of the coup-makers.

 

His next task is to appoint a 35-member cabinet, and to oversee¹¹ the establishment of a 250-member reform council, which is supposed to carry out a root-and-branch reform of politics and government. It is a hugely ambitious agenda.

 

How successful Gen Prayuth is will depend on how skilfully¹² he uses the formidable hand he now holds. Critics say he is abrupt¹³ and impatient, with deeply conservative outlook. His fans describe him as decisive, and a good listener.

 

Given the way the military has smothered¹⁴ dissent¹⁵ since the coup, there has been little visible opposition so far. That may change as they tackle more difficult issues.

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