AFTER the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn Shinawatra from performing prime ministerial duties earlier today (July 1) it is second Deputy Prime Minister/Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit who will assume the position of acting Prime Minister, Naewna and Thai Rath newspapers plus TV Channel 3 said.
This is because the first Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumthum Wechayachai, who is known to be de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra’s right-hand man, had been moved to take up the position of first Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister in the second Paetongtarn cabinet lineup which was endorsed by His Majesty the King before the court decision was read out but he has not yet taken the oath of allegiance before His Majesty the King which is set for Thursday (July 3).
In the second cabinet lineup Paetongtarn concurrently holds the culture portfolio and will head this ministry pending a court ruling to be delivered in a couple of months or sooner in an impeachment lawsuit filed against her by some senators over her leaked phone call to Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
She has been charged with perpetrating disreputable, erroneous conduct whilst handling Thai-Cambodian border conflict primarily deemed detrimental to Thailand’s territorial integrity and national interests, supposedly warranting a court-ordered end to her rule.
As acting prime minister Suriya has full authority to reshuffle the cabinet, dissolve the House of Representatives and call an election and lead Paetongtarn in the oath-taking ceremony before His Majesty the King.
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Top and Front Page: Acting Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Photos: Thai Rath
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