Ex-ASEAN secretary general vows to run for next Thai premier

Former ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan vowed on the first day of the new year to run for prime minister of Thailand in the next general election.

Surin, a former foreign minister and veteran lawmaker, confirmed he will take the first step in his planned return to political arena by contesting the post of top leader of Democrat Party, currently held by former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva.

If he won the top post of the country's oldest party in foreseeable future, the ex-ASEAN secretary general said he would certainly run for prime minister under the Democrat Party tickets.

It remains to be seen if Abhisit might possibly contest against Surin for the party's top post to renew his tenure since 2005.

The 66-year-old Surin used to be a veteran member of Democrat Party since he represented his home province of Nakorn Sri Thammarat in southern Thailand and the party by getting voted into parliament as MP.

Meanwhile, current Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier pledged to call the general election by the middle of 2017 while he himself dismissed speculation he will return as head of an elected government by way of nationwide polls.

During his time as army chief, Prayut seized power in 2014 by way of a bloodless coup in which an elected government under former lady leader Yingluck Shinawatra was deposed.

Finally, he became head of the current military-led government and vowed to steer the country under an extended, military-designed "roadmap" and not to return democratic rule to the country until after "national reforms" in varied aspects have been done. Endit