Thai leader will battle hard to secure his position

Significance

Rebooting the economy is just one challenge facing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The junta leader-turned-civilian premier continues to come under pressure from a pro-democracy protest movement and faces tough choices on foreign policy.

Impacts

• Bangkok will come under increasing external pressure to allow humanitarian aid to flow from Thailand into Myanmar.
• Prayut will likely cut ties with the ruling Phalang Pracharat Party if he brings forward the elections.
• Calls for reform of the political system will persist despite the increasingly severe clampdown on demonstrators by the authorities.