 He later denied that he lobbied the Constitution Tribunal to ban the Thai Rak Thai executive team.There was widespread public speculation that Sonthi would retain power after his mandatory retirement in 2007.Although he promised not to follow in the footsteps of former National Peace Keeping Coalition leader and deposed Prime Minister General Suchinda Kraprayoon, Sonthi did note that he alone could not make the decision as to whether he should become Prime Minister.