The path to becoming the next National Police Chief is reaching a critical stage in selecting the new leader to succeed Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the 15th Chief, who will retire on 30 September 2023. Reports indicate that the Prime Minister will chair the Police Commission meeting on 22 July 2023.
There are four candidates expected to be considered for the next National Police Chief position:
Police General Niran Leumsri
Police General Samran Nuamma
Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr
Police General Itthipol Achariyapradit
Sources state that the leading candidates to watch closely are Police Generals Niran Leumsri and Thatchai Pitanilabutr due to their seniority and proven track records.
In particular, Police General Niran Leumsri is the most senior and considered the top frontrunner, with a career spanning law enforcement and academic achievements, combined with a vision to integrate technology and modern management methods into the organization.
Former Deputy National Police Chief Police General Ek Angsananon explained that the legal criteria do not rely solely on seniority; the law grants the Prime Minister the sole authority to consider candidates, with evaluation based on both seniority and competence.
The Police Commission meeting follows clear procedures for selection as follows:
The Prime Minister will propose a single candidate’s name to the Police Commission meeting for approval, rather than allowing the Commission to choose among the four candidates.
Voting is by a show of hands, requiring a majority of votes from those present to approve the candidate.
Regarding quorum and abstentions, if there are 16 members, the four candidates, who have a vested interest, must leave the meeting room, leaving 12 eligible voters.
The Prime Minister typically does not vote unless there is a tie, in which case the Prime Minister casts the deciding vote.
By law, the appointment process for the National Police Chief must be completed by July to ensure subsequent police appointments at the general level in August–September and colonel level thereafter proceed on schedule.
Meeting this timeline is crucial to avoid administrative and budgetary disruptions within the National Police Agency, and helps prevent allegations of interference or unfair appointments.