Thai court suspends PM Prayut until it rules on tenure question

Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from performing his duties Wednesday until it can rule on the question of an eight-year term limit on his office, the court said.

The opposition had submitted a petition calling for his resignation as the Constitution stipulates that the prime minister can serve for a total of eight years.

The former army chief led a coup that toppled a civilian government in May 2014. His interim premiership became effective on Aug 24 of that year.

The 5-4 vote to temporarily suspend the prime minister from performing his duties came as all nine judges accepted the opposition’s petition while asking Prayut to explain why he should stay in his job within 15 days of receiving a copy of the petition.

Regarding the suspension, the court said that after considering the petition and relevant documents, it has found grounds for believing that the opposition may have a valid case as its petition claims.

Prayut has come under political pressure from the opposition amid his apparent bid to secure a controversial third term as premier. He has so far survived successive no-confidence motions brought by the opposition.

After several years of junta rule, with Prayut serving as prime minister, a new constitution was promulgated in April 2017. Following the March 2019 general election, Prayut was re-elected prime minister in June of that year to head the country’s first civilian government since the coup.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES