Prem Tinsulanonda, 1920–2019, Thai military and political leader. After serving in the Thai army, where he rose to become commander in chief (1978), he entered politics. He served in the Thai senate and national assembly and was deputy interior minister and defense minister before becoming prime minister (1980–88). Prem survived two coup attempts (1981, 1985) due to strong support from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He then was named to the king's privy council, and headed it from 1998 until his death; he was accused of encouraging the 2006 ouster of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2016 Prem was briefly regent (2016) after the king's death.
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