Thailand’s Constitutional Court decided today to temporarily remove Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha from office until it decides whether he can remain in office beyond the eight years stipulated in the Constitution, sparking a political upheaval in the country a few months ago. from the elections.
Opposition MPs, professors, student unions… Many voices have been raised calling for the removal of Prayuth, who they believe has exceeded the 8-year limit as prime minister as stipulated under the 2017 Constitution.
The main opposition party also appealed to the Constitutional Court, claiming that the time he served as head of a military council after the military overthrew Thailand’s government in 2014 should also be counted.
The court may take several weeks to announce its decision. However, two different interpretations of the Constitution may allow the 68-year-old former general to remain in power until 2025 or 2027.
Vice-president and second-in-command of the government Pravit Ungosuwan, 77, will take over as caretaker prime minister.
Political crisis before the elections
Although the court’s decision came as a surprise, experts expect the Constitutional Court to ultimately rule in favor of Prayuth, who has managed to overcome all crises since 2014, most notably the massive, pro-democracy protests of 2020.
“The long list of decisions that benefited Prayuth Chan-O-Cha speaks for itself (…) The most likely scenario is that he limps to the end of his term, beyond the eight-year limit,” explained Thitinan Pongsundhirak , professor of political science in Bangkok.
Moreover, the 2017 Constitution, which was drafted by the military junta, is seen as favorable to the military.
Based on this, the eight years can start counting from 2017, when this Constitution came into force. According to another version, the beginning of his term is 2019, the year when the parliamentary elections were held that legitimized his power.
Nearly two-thirds of Thais want Prayuth to step down as prime minister this month, a recent poll showed.
Since yesterday, authorities have placed boxes to block the road leading to the seat of government in Bangkok, where more than a hundred people have demonstrated to demand Prayuth’s resignation.
Today pro-democracy protesters gathered at the Democracy Monument in central Bangkok welcomed the Constitutional Court ruling but added that it is not enough.
“We are not satisfied (…) We want the parliament to be dissolved and early elections,” said one woman. “We are not happy. Prayuth stole power from a woman and became prime minister after a coup,” she added, referring to Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in a 2014 coup.
Source: Capital
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