BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – The Constitutional Court takes up a petition to rule on when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha’s constitutionally stipulated eight-year term is up.
The court has suspended Gen Prayut from official duties until the judges rule on the issue. A panel of judges ruled five to four in favour of his suspension, starting from Wednesday. It is expected that the court will deliver a ruling in September.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will likely serve as interim prime minister according to the cabinet line of succession.
The opposition camp’s petition, seeking the court’s ruling on when Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha’s eight-year tenure should end was submitted to the Constitutional Court through the parliamentary channel on Monday.
The opposition argued that Gen Prayut has reached his eight-year term limit and should step down as he was installed as the premier under the interim constitution on August 24, 2014 following the coup in May that year. His time he ruled as head of a military coucil after overthrowing an elected government should count towards his term. (TNA)
