Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwon has signalled his intention to step away from politics after withdrawing as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

Gen Prawit on Friday told close associates who gathered to offer New Year greetings that he had had “enough”, after being praised for remaining healthy and energetic at his age.

The 80-year-old leader opened his base at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation for the occasion.

His plan to end his political career had been widely expected after the retired general decided not to stand as the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the Feb 8 election.

Gen Prawit played a key role in backing then army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha in the 2014 coup and in the subsequent governments led by Gen Prayut. Palang Pracharath secretary-general Treenuch Thienthong, who is also education minister in the current government, is set to be nominated as his replacement.