Thai junta chief declared 2nd-time Prime Minister

Thailand's junta leader was officially proclaimed prime minister on Tuesday after the king endorsed Parliament's vote for him to serve another term.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha knelt before a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and performed three elaborate bows during a ceremony at his government office to confirm his appointment.

Prayuth has served as prime minister since he led a military coup that toppled an elected government in 2014. The junta will cease power once a new Cabinet is inaugurated.

In a brief live televised speech after the ceremony, he pledged to "dedicate myself to public service with honesty and integrity in pursuit of the greater good of the country and the people of Thailand."

The military government had enacted new election laws that gave Prayuth an advantage in a general election held in March. The new laws authorized a 250-member Senate, appointed by the junta, to take part in the parliamentary vote for prime minister along with an elected 500-member House of Representatives.

Prayuth did not contest the election but won last week's joint parliamentary vote, 500-244, against Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. All junta-appointed senators voted for Prayuth to lead the next government, apart from the Senate speaker, who abstained from voting in line with custom.

Critics have expressed doubt whether a government led by Prayuth can fare well in a parliamentary framework, with the parliamentary vote indicating that his coalition has only marginal control over the House, which passes laws and approves budgets.

Prayuth's coalition government includes 18 political parties whose leaders were also present for Tuesday's ceremony.

His appointment was made official after a royal order to announce it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday.

The Palang Pracharath Party, which campaigned for Prayuth to lead the next government, won the second-most seats during the March election. The party includes many former members of the military government.

— AP In this photo released by government spokesman office, former junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha (right) congratulates coalition members as he receives the royal endorsement to continue his role as Prime Minister at the Government House on Tuesday.