Thai court to decide on PM Prayuth’s tenure this month

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Government House in Bangkok on July 10, 2022. (STEFANI REYNOLDS / POOL / AFP)

BANGKOK – Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday set Sept 30 as the date to deliver its verdict on the tenure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a case that seeks to determine whether he has already exceeded an eight-year limit as premier.

Prayuth, who came to power power in a 2014 coup before formally becoming prime minister soon after, is suspended while the court deliberates on the case filed by the opposition Pheu Thai party, which argues he should have left office last month. 

Prayuth, a former army chief, is still active in his other post of defense minister and could return as premier if the court decides he has yet to reach the eight-year mark

The former army chief is still active in his other post of defense minister and could return as premier if the court decides he has yet to reach the eight-year mark.

His deputy, Prawit Wongsuwan, is serving as caretaker premier. 

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Prayuth, 68, has given no opinion on the case and has said he will respect the outcome.

Some of his supporters argue the eight years should be counted after 2017, when a new constitution took effect, or even from 2019, when an election was held and a new parliament chose him to head a coalition government.

Anucha Burapachaisri, government spokesperson, said the verdict would be a chance for clarity.

"I urge the public to wait and see and respect the result," he added.

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