Former Thai PM and influential royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda dies at 98

Reuters - Former Thai prime minister and influential royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda died on Sunday (May 26) morning at age 98 in a Bangkok hospital, a palace official told Reuters. As chairman of the prestigious Privy Council of royal advisers, Prem played an important role in organising the ornate coronation of the King Maha Vajiralongkorn earlier this month, and also served briefly as the country's regent shortly after King Bhumibol, the current monarch's father, died in 2016 after a 70-year reign. The cause of Prem's death was not yet made public. Prem was seen by political observers as having unparalleled influence with Thailand's powerful royalist military which has staged 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. His death comes as Thailand prepares to form a new government after the first elections since a 2014 coup, with a pro-military political party favoured to keep current junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha on as prime minister over the objections of opposition parties.