Hussain Muhammad Ershad vs Kriangsak Chamanan

On March 24, 1982, Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad seized power in a bloodless coup, suspending the constitution and imposing martial law. He cited corruption and economic mismanagement under the civilian government as justification.

Ershad founded the Jatiya Party in 1986 as his political vehicle to legitimize his rule. The party won parliamentary elections that year, though the polls were widely boycotted by opposition parties and criticized as rigged.

Faced with a massive pro-democracy uprising led by the Awami League and BNP, Ershad resigned on December 6, 1990. He handed power to a caretaker government, ending his eight-year military rule and restoring parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

General Kriangsak Chamanan was appointed Prime Minister after a military coup ousted the civilian government. He led a transitional administration that restored parliamentary democracy and held elections in 1979.

Kriangsak Chamanan oversaw the drafting and promulgation of a new constitution that established a bicameral legislature and paved the way for democratic elections. The constitution remained in effect until 1991.

Under Kriangsak Chamanan's leadership, Thailand held its first general election in three years. The election restored civilian rule, though the military retained significant influence through the appointed Senate.

Kriangsak Chamanan resigned as Prime Minister after losing a parliamentary vote of confidence. His resignation allowed for a peaceful transition of power to Prem Tinsulanonda, marking a rare voluntary exit by a military leader.