Thailand's Constitutional Court Reportedly Suspends PM Prayut Chan-o-cha Pending Term Limit Ruling

A protest involving about 200 people took place in central Bangkok on August 23, with participants demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.
Sputnik
Thailand's constitutional court temporarily suspended the country's Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, starting August 24, until it rules on a petition from the opposition, Thai media reported.
The court voted 5-4 in favor of the suspension, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS. The move was announced in a written statement from the court sent to media, with no clarification as to when it would deliver a final ruling. Deputy Premier Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan was reportedly designated as the acting prime minister.
The court had been set to rule on the petition, signed by a total of 171 opposition lawmakers, to oust Chan-ocha, arguing that the PM had reached the legal limit on how long he can remain in office.
68-year-old Prayuth was an army chief when he led a coup in 2014 to topple an elected government. In 2019, after an election was held in line with a military-drafted constitution, he became a civilian prime minister.
Thailand's main opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP), as well as about two-thirds of the population, showed a recent opinion poll, believed the PM should step down by August 24 because his time as junta chief counted towards his term in office.
World
Anti-Government Protesters in Thailand Demand Prime Minister's Resignation - Videos
Prayut’s supporters have claimed that the clock started ticking during his time in office, pointing to the current military-drafted constitution, which came into effect on April 6, 2017.
Authorities in the Thai capital, Bangkok, had boosted security at the prime minister’s office after a protest involving about 200 people took place in the city on August 23, with participants demanding the resignation of Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Thailand has faced widespread demonstrations since the contested 2019 general election, with protesters calling for the resignation of Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former junta leader.
Since 2014, when Prayuth Chan-o-cha seized power in Thailand, a series of policy implementations triggered the population’s discontent. Thus, in 2016, the government adopted a new constitution which introduced the military-appointed Senate with the power to appoint prime ministers.
Discuss