Breaking News: Prayut Reinstated as PM

[Tripadvisor]

BREAKING: Prayut reinstated as Prime Minister of Thailand

Thailand’sConstitutional Court reinstated Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister of Thailand. The court ruled this afternoon that Prayut has not yet hit the eight-year constitutional limit set for his role.

The court ruled that Prayut became prime minister on April 6, 2017, when the HM the King ratified a new military-drafted constitution. Therefore, PM Prayut can resume his position as prime minister right away.

PM Prayut is eligible to run in Thailand’s next general election. If he is voted to keep his position as PM, it remains unclear exactly how much longer he will remain in office.

The court’s decision is expected to be met with public outrage because Prayut already completed two four-year terms as PM. He became PM in 2014, shortly after he led a coup against the democratically-elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Section 158 of Thailand’s constitution states that “The Prime Minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not holding consecutive term.”

Police deployed 300 personnel around the court in preparation for instant protests from anti-government groups.

[Videoking]

Thai PM’s secretary-general appointment may be questioned in debate over political ethics

Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha may be grilled in a debate over ethics concerning his secretary-general’sappointment. The opposition is reportedly planning to hold a general debate shortly after the New Year as it focuses on what it describes as the unethical appointment of the new secretary-general. Pheu Thai Party leader, Cholnan Srikaew, told the Bangkok Post, that the opposition is close to wrapping up their plans to question the government. Cholnan says the bloc will submit the proposal to parliament before December 28. He noted that the debate could commence around the third or fourth week of January 2023.

“All I ask of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is that he refrain from dissolving the House in order to avoid the debate. It would be a shameful way to try and escape scrutiny.”

Cholnan made the remarks after Prayut appointed Pirapan Salirathavibhaga as his secretary-general. Pirapan is the leader of the newly established United Thai Nation Party. Critics say Pirapan will have considerable power in his new position and could act as the second prime minister. The opposition says although it is legal for Prayut to appoint a secretary-general, it may not be ethical as the new appointment comes before the next general election in May. Such an appointment could give an unfair political advantage to Prayut as Pirapan leads the UTN party which Prayut is expected to join. The party is also expected to elect Prayut as its PM candidate in the next poll. Furthermore, critics say the removal of the previous secretary-general was unwarranted, as they say, Dissathat Hotrakit was fully competent and did nothing to deserve a demotion.