At the request of an opposition party, Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday. The petition claims that the prime minister has already served the maximum term of his term and demands his resignation.
Presented to parliament last week by the main opposition party, Pheu Thai, the document argues that the time Prayuth served as head of a military junta — after having staged a coup when he was head of the army in 2014 — should be accounted for. in his eight-year term, the maximum period of government stipulated by the country’s Constitution.
Although Prayuth could be reappointed to his position later as the case progresses, the surprise suspension has thrown Thai politics into a new crisis. It is not yet known when the Constitutional Court will give its verdict.
Prayuth has 15 days to respond, the court told the press in a statement, adding that the panel of judges had decided to suspend the prime minister by five votes to four.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prayuth respected the decision and stepped down. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to take over as interim leader.
“Prime Minister Prayuth also urged people to respect the court’s decision and refrain from criticizing the decision, which could create even more division,” the spokesman added.
Prayuth ruled as head of a military council after overthrowing a democratically elected government in 2014. He became civilian prime minister five years later after an election held under the 2017 military constitution, in which a limit of eight was set. years into a prime minister’s term. Thailand’s next general election is scheduled for May 2023.
In its lawsuit against the prime minister, the Pheu Thai party, which was forced out of power in the 2014 coup, argued that Prayuth should be removed from office this week because his time as head of the junta should count towards his term.
Leader of the Pheu Thai party, which was forced out of power in the 2014 coup, Chonlanan Srikaew said the court’s decision on Wednesday reflected concerns about the legitimacy of the laws.
Thais appear to agree with the suspension — nearly two-thirds of the country’s population wants Prayuth out, according to recent opinion polls.
The prime minister’s allies, however, argue that his term only began in 2017, when the new constitution came into force, or after the 2019 elections – meaning he could remain in power until 2025 or 2027.
The controversy is the latest in a country that has been experiencing intermittent political turmoil for nearly two decades, including two coups d’état and violent protests, stemming from opposition to military involvement in politics and demands for greater representation as awareness grows in the country. population.
Pro-democracy activists campaigned against Prayuth and his government, arguing that the 2019 election was not legitimate, although student-led demonstrations have petered out over the past two years due to restrictions imposed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters rallied again this week in anticipation of the court ruling. Nearly 100 people at the Bangkok Democracy Monument welcomed Prayuth’s suspension but said it was not enough. “We want Parliament dissolved and early elections,” said an activist who gave her name only as Manee.
“Prayuth stole power from a woman and became prime minister in a coup,” she added, referring to the ousted president in 2014, Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of former prime minister and telecommunications mogul Thaksin Shinawatra.
Both Yingluck and Thaksin, ousted in a previous coup in 2006, live abroad in self-exile. Defense Ministry spokesman Kongchep Tantravanich said the military supports any government.
