Prayut returns to power with Constitutional Court support

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha was today (Sept. 30) judged by the Constitutional Court to have not as yet completed his eight-year tenure, thus being legally allowed to come back as head of government again after a five-week suspension.

The Constitutional Court voted 6:3 to endorse Prayut’s comeback to power and to drop the Pheu Thai-led opposition bloc’s petition which alleged that his eight-year tenure maximumly provided by law may already have ended since August 24, the date from which he has been suspended by court from performing as head of government.

The court ruled that Prayut’s “premiership” got started from 2017, the year in which the coup junta-designed constitution was promulgated, until 2025, and that it was no by means retroactive to 2014, the year in which he rose to power, albeit in similar capacity of a prime minister, following a coup which he himself had orchestrated as army chief a few months earlier that year.

Nevertheless, political activists and street demonstrators who peacefully gathered outside the Constitutional Court premises on Chaeng Wattana road aired frustrations and insisted that he immediately step down in spite of the court’s ruling in his support.

Many university academics have earlier concluded that Prayut has risen to premiership since the coup year, thus having practically completed his eight-year rule.

CAPTION:

Demonstrators led by Mr. Jatuporn Phromphan, along with Mr. Nitithorn Lumluea or Nok Khao lawyer, from Khana Lom Ruam Prachachon (Group for the Melting of the People Together) started gathering in front of Central World department store late this afternoon (Sept. 30) after the Constitutional Court ruled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s eight-year tenure has not ended. Photos: Matichon