The 76-year-old was standing for the role unopposed and will serve for another four years after first taking the job in 2017.

A General in the Royal Thai Army, Prawit is a Deputy Prime Minister in the country and a former Minister of Defence.

He is alleged to have played a key role in the 2014 coup d'état which took place in Thailand, becoming deputy chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order which was created by the military to run the nation.

In 2018, he was cleared of an asset concealing charge after an affair involving luxury watches.

Two Honorary Presidents have been appointed by the NOCT, including former President Yutthasak Sasiprabha.

Charouck Arirachakaran, who is 89 and is stepping down as secretary general, has also been given the title.

Wit Devahastin na Ayudhya, a close aide of Prawit according to the Bangkok Times, has been appointed as the new secretary general. 

Prawit leads the Palang Pracharat political party and has also named Wit as the chairman of its Strategic Committee.

Thana Chaiprasit has been elected as vice-president and treasurer, and 25 people have become NOCT Executive members.

These members, including Prawit, voted for the President.

Thailand won the 10th gold medal in its Olympic history at Tokyo 2020, thanks to Panipak Wongpattanakit's victory in the women's under-49 kilograms taekwondo.

The country was due to host the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games next year, but the event has been postponed until 2023 because of the coronavirus pandemic.