PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha did not come to work at the Government House this morning (August 24) opting to chair a meeting of the Policy Committee on Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Country for Targeted Industries via video conference, Sanook.com said.
He also assigned Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to preside over the Prime Minister Award: National Startup 2022 and the Prime Minister Award: Innovation for Crisis on his behalf this afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan also chaired the National Cyber Security Committee meeting via video conference.
Security remained tight around the Government House with visitors strictly screened and policemen surrounding the whole complex with fire engines too brought in case they were needed.
Police are waiting to see whether the protesters will invade the Government House with the hashtag “Outlawed prime minister” being the top Twitter trend since yesterday.
Meanwhile the Constitutional Court began its weekly meeting at 10 a.m. this morning and on the agenda is whether or not to accept a Pheu Thai-led opposition bloc’s petition forwarded by Parliament President for a ruling on Prayut’s eight-year term and whether he should immediately stop performing as head of government until it is passed.
If eventually ordered by court to immediately stop performing as head of government, Prayut may only continue to perform as defence minister, the post which he has concurrently assumed, and leave the top post of government to Prawit to act as caretaker premier, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
Security guards at the court had placed metal barriers around the compound but no policemen had come in.
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Top: Tight security at Government House. Photo: INN News
Front Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Thai headline says, “Prayut WFH (work from home)” today. Photo: Sanook.com
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