Prayut Chan-o-cha, born on March 21, 1954, is a retired general of the Royal Thai Army and a prominent Thai politician. He served as the 29th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2014 until his retirement in 2023. Before his political career, Prayut was the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army. In 2014, amid prolonged political unrest and protests against the government, Prayut led a military coup that ousted the elected administration. Following the coup on May 22, 2014, he became the acting premier and later was officially appointed prime minister on August 24, 2014. His government imposed martial law and restricted political freedoms, including curbing freedom of speech and detaining critics and activists. Prayut’s administration focused on maintaining stability, upholding the monarchy, fighting corruption, ending human trafficking, and addressing the Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand. Under his leadership, Thailand experienced economic growth with increased exports and tourism, along with major infrastructure projects like the Eastern Economic Corridor. Despite pledges to return the country to democratic rule, Prayut remained in power through a military-backed constitution and political mechanisms that secured his premiership in 2019. His tenure faced significant protests demanding democratic reforms. After the 2023 general election, which saw a reformist party win decisively, Prayut announced his retirement from politics in July 2023 and stepped down as leader of the United Thai Nation Party. He was succeeded as prime minister by Srettha Thavisin and later appointed as a Privy Councilor, serving as an advisor to the king. Prayut remains a notable figure in Thailand’s contemporary political history due to his military background, coup leadership, and extended premiership during a turbulent period for the country[1][2][3][4].