The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will vote Thursday to select the new prime minister, likely to be National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Commander of the Royal Thai army, author of the May 22 coup, head of the National Council for Peace and Order - and on Frirsday Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha will likely add "Prime Minister" before his name, after a predictable and unanimous vote by his National Legislative Assembly.
NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said he had included the prime minister vote on Thursday's meeting agenda, but declined to comment on criticism that Gen Prayuth might not be qualified to become premier while also holding the office of NCPO chief.
Mr Pornpetch said that issue has nothing to do with him and that his job was only to draft the agenda.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said he believes Gen Prayuth's rise to prime minister is necessary to ensure the success of the NCPO's reforms.
As for criticism that Gen Prayuth might violate the interim charter if he becomes premier, Mr Abhisit said the country is already under an irregular system, and exceptions can be made.
The NCPO should focus on achieving its reforms, Mr Abhisit said. Its priority now is to deliver a clear operational plan.
Chartthaipattana Party chief adviser Banharn Silpa-archa said he is throwing his support behind Gen Prayuth given the job he has done over the past two months.
"I have no complaints about Gen Prayuth because he is the one who knows the country's problems best and can become the prime minister," Mr Banharn said.
"Gen Prayuth's strength is his decisiveness. But the difference between being the NCPO chief and the prime minister is the NCPO chief has absolute power while the premier has the law and parliament to contend with. Sometimes there will be people who don't agree with him," he said.
"But I believe Gen Prayuth will work out well," Mr Banharn said.