THAILAND’S junta-appointed legislature voted unanimously today to name junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha prime minister.

There was little doubt of the outcome since Gen Chan-ocha was the only candidate.

He is due to retire from the army next month but until then can hold both positions. 

Yesterday’s appointment keeps him at the helm as the military implements sweeping political reforms designed to purge the influence of the democratically elected ruling party and favour an elite minority that has failed to win national elections for more than a decade.

Gen Chan-ocha has served as de facto premier since the May 22 coup. For several years before that he held the position of army chief, one of the most powerful and influential posts in a country where the military has seized power 12 times since 1932.

His appointment must be approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a formality likely to occur within a week.

The vote was the latest in a series of moves by the junta to consolidate power on its own terms.

In July the military adopted a temporary 48-article constitution. 

Shortly afterwards the junta appointed an assembly dominated by active and retired officers.

The military justified the coup by saying the army had to intervene to end months of protests that paralysed the government and triggered sporadic violence which left 28 people dead. 

Most politicians from the ousted ruling party, including former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, were detained and released only after signing agreements preventing them from speaking out.