Is time up for Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha?

Yesterday, several emotive but peaceful protests were held around Bangkok calling for Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stand down. One protestor with a painted face stood outside Bangkok City Hall last night holding a sign that read…

“Let it stop at 8 years. The Prime Minister is unconstitutional! Prayut, get out.”

Protestors insist that Prayut’s time in office runs out today, August 24, 2022, eight years after he became prime minister in August 2014 – just three months after he led a coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thailand’s constitution stipulates that no prime minister can remain in power longer than eight years. So why is PM Prayut still in office?

Prayut’s supporters and coalition parties would like to argue that his premiership began on April 6, 2017, when a new 105-page constitution drafted by the National Council for Peace and Order – or military junta – was approved by HM the King.

If the Constitutional Court favours the latter option, PM Prayut could continue serving as prime minister until April 2025. A petition was submitted to the Constitutional Court calling for a definitive answer on the end date of PM Prayut’s tenure on August 5, but the court hasn’t yet come to a decision.

According to Peace-Loving Thais Group, leaked minutes from a Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) meeting held on September 7, 2018, reveal that the length of Prayut’s premiership was discussed a long time ago. The minutes suggest that Prayut’s premiership started three months after the military coup, meaning his premiership should end today.

However, since the document has been used as levy by opposition parties, the CDC has responded by saying that the minutes were simply a discussion in a meeting attended by 30 people and are in no way evidence of a collective decision on the matter.

Protests continued through the night yesterday and are not expected to stop anytime soon, with activists claiming they will camp out in protest until PM Prayut stands down.

If the Constitutional Court rules that PM Prayut’s time is up, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan is likely to step in as interim PM. PM Prayut is expected to continue in his position as Defense Minister, whatever the Constitutional Court rules about the end of his tenure.