Prayuth Chan-ocha, 21st century Thai dictator, 2014-2023

Nine years after he vowed to put smiles on everyone’s faces by seizing control of the country and granting himself absolute power, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha hobbled out of the political arena today. He was 69.

The cause of his retirement was the complete rejection by the public he once ruled by fiat.

After suffering a humiliating defeat in May’s election, Prayuth announced just after 4pm that he had resigned from his military proxy, the United Thai Nation Party, effectively ending his political career.

“From this point forward, I would like to announce my withdrawal from the United Thai Nation Party and request the party leader, executive committee, and members to continue their political activities with strong determination to protect and preserve our nation, religion, monarchy, and to take care of the Thai people,” he wrote in a signed statement that kept…