In Thailand, the Parliament has elected 2014 coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as Prime Minister. <br />'' <br />'' The military-backed party that nominated Prayuth won the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives in a general election in March.<br />'' <br />'' Prayuth was elected to serve a second term by a vote of 500 to 244 for his opponent, Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. <br />'' <br />'' Prayuth was the candidate of the military-backed Palang Pracharath party, which holds 116 House seats, as well as lawmakers from smaller parties. His appointment becomes official when it is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.<br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Prayuth did not run for office in the March election – the constitution enacted under the junta he headed does not require that the Prime Minister come from Parliament. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">While the formation of a government will finally return Thailand officially to civilian rule, it will be done under a new political system enacted by the junta Prayuth has led and its appointees.</span>