Gen Prawit Becomes Acting PM

[reader]

From Thai News Agency

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon automatically becomes the acting prime minister on behalf of Gen Prayut Chan-ocha; otherwise, another cabinet minister can assume the role, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

After the Constitutional Court suspended Gen Prayut as the prime minister today until it issues a ruling on the matter of his tenure, Mr Wissanu said Gen Prawit automatically became the acting prime minister and other cabinet ministers would be at work as usual including Gen Prayut as the defence minister.

If six deputy prime ministers are not ready to act as the prime minister, any other minister can take over the acting role including Gen Prayut who had the concurrent position at the defence ministry, Mr Wissanu said.

Mr Wissanu also said that the legal team of Gen Prayut prepared a statement for the Constitutional Court. Today the court ordered Gen Prayut to file his statement on the matter of his tenure within 15 days.

https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1004311

 

[TMax]

Oh gawd, isn't he the one with all the watches and sleeps a lot on the job?

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, TMax said:

isn't he the one with all the watches and sleeps a lot on the job?

it may not be bad thing for a while

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, reader said:

 

After the Constitutional Court suspended Gen Prayut as the prime minister today

 

I wonder what he did wrong this time ?

[alvnv]

14 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I wonder what he did wrong this time ?

I think it’s about going over the term limit. He has been serving since 2014, so his 8 years are up, although he and his supporters argue that the time should only be counted from 2019: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2375980/constitutional-court-suspends-prayut

[Vessey]

Seems to me to be a 'holding-position' to keep the court happy. I would not be surprised if we had not heard the last of Gen Prayut yet.

[fedssocr]

He's not very popular (with the public or anyone else) so I suspect he will fade away.

Andrew MacGregor Marshall had a good newsletter about this situation a few days ago

[PeterRS]

Prayut's backers insist he was not the officially elected PM until 2017. Members of the Constitutional Court have shown before that the Court has no teeth and its members are not averse to receiving the odd brown envelope, the larger the better. I'll lay odds that his backers win and he'll be reinstated as PM at least until the next election whenever that takes place. After all he's only suspended pending the Constitutional Court making a final ruling!

[vinapu]

5 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

 Members of the Constitutional Court have shown before that the Court has no teeth

they showed now suspending PM after all.

It's why I suspect he crossed spades with somebody more powerful

[PeterRS]

13 hours ago, vinapu said:

they showed now suspending PM after all.

It's why I suspect he crossed spades with somebody more powerful

I think they had no choice but to suspend him. Anyone assuming he became PM after the coup would have to agree this. But the Court could have issued an immediate ban. It didn't. We'll soon see if the brown envelopes work this time!

[fedssocr]

The court has teeth. They essentially killed off Future Forward. It's just a matter of which powerful institution the court serves.

[reader]

What power does Prawit have as acting PM?

From Thai PBS World

The decision by the Constitutional Court to suspend Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from active duty might have fallen short of the expectations of the opposition bloc and anti-government demonstrators, but should help lower the political temperature — at least for the time being, according to political analysts.

Businessmen and industrialists, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the current political uncertainty should not have serious effect on the economy as the country begins to recover from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday voted unanimously to accept a petition submitted by the opposition bloc for it to rule on Gen Prayut’s term of office as prime minister.  The court also issued an injunction that prohibits Prayut from performing his prime ministerial duty, pending its final ruling.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is now assuming the role of acting prime minister amid questions as to what power he really has in his caretaker capacity.

The State Administration Act makes it clear that an acting prime minister “has the same authority bestowed to the person he replaces”. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Wednesday also stressed that Prawit will be running the country with the full authority of a prime minister.

“He will be administering with the power of the prime minister.  He can even reshuffle the Cabinet or dissolve the Parliament,” Wissanu said in answering a question from reporters.  “But why would he want to do that?” Wissanu quickly added.

The opposition bloc and anti-government demonstrators have demanded an immediate resignation of Prime Minister Prayut who they believe have served out his eight-year term limit at midnight Tuesday. The demonstrators have also rejected Prawit’s role as acting prime minister and vowed to continue their protests.

The 77-year-old former army chief is known as the “Big Brother” of the military top brass that seized power in 2014 and on several occasions designated was as acting prime minister whenever Prime Minister Prayut went on overseas trips.

Jade Donavanik, a well-known law expert at Dhurakij Pundit University, told Thai PBS World that the court’s decision to suspend Prayut from active duty should help reduce the political tensions at least for the time being.

“It has certainly taken the heat out of the situation,” he said, referring to the escalating street protests over the past weeks.

However, Jade suggested that even though Prayut can continue to serve as defence minister, he should play a low profile in order not to give the impression that he still calls the shots.

Meanwhile, several leading businessmen have played down possible negative impact on the economy and investments by the temporary departure of Prime Minister Prayut. They believe that the government under Prawit’s leadership will continue to implement all the policies it has initiated.

“The government should continue to function without any disruption,” said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, president of the Federation of Thai Industries.

While admitting that the current political situation may pose a challenge to the government’s stability, President of Thai Chamber of Commerce Sanan Angubolkul said it should not have any adverse impact on the private sector. “Our tourism and export industry is making a rebound and it should not be affected by the court’s decision,” he said.

By Thepchai Yong

[reader]

NOTE -- For those with an interest in Thai political history, this piece helps explain how the graduates of an elite military academy have come to govern the country.

From Thai PBS World

The rise to power of ‘big brother’ Prawit Wongsuwan

Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is generally considered a weak link in Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration, tainted by the scandal over a multimillion-baht wristwatch collection, despite his repeated denials of corruption. But in a twist of fate, he finally finds himself in the top post of prime minister, thanks to a legal dispute over the tenure of his junior Army classmate.

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday voted 5:4 to suspend PM Prayut from duty after it decided to accept a petition filed by the opposition asking for a ruling on his eight-year term as prime minister. Prayut will be suspended as PM until the ruling is delivered, though he can continue to serve as defense minister in the Cabinet.

Prawit, who is leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, tops the hierarchy of the six deputy prime ministers, so he automatically became caretaker prime minister following Prayut’s suspension. Prawit will remain as caretaker PM until the Constitutional Court issues its ruling on Prayut’s tenure.

Prawit, now 77, is known as the “big brother” of the Burapha Payak (“Tigers of the East”) military clique of officers, who typically start their careers in the 21st Infantry Regiment based in Prachinburi. This group includes former Commander-in-Chief Anupong Paochinda and his successor Prayut. The trio of generals is dubbed the “3Ps” – Prayut, Prawit and “Pock” (Anupong).

While Prayut led the coup that toppled the Yingluck government in 2014, Prawit is widely credited with helping the military prolong its power after the 2019 general election.

In June 2020, as chief party strategist, Prawit was elected as Palang Pracharath’s new leader. He won the top seat uncontested, announcing he would accept the post to end internal disputes as it would allow him to handle party infighting. “They [the factions] must be reconciled,” he said.

His rise to party chief was expected to quell an ongoing power struggle within Palang Pracharath, which has many factions.

Prawit, now 77, is known as the “big brother” of the Burapha Payak (“Tigers of the East”) military clique of officers, who typically start their careers in the 21st Infantry Regiment based in Prachinburi. This group includes former Commander-in-Chief Anupong Paochinda and his successor Prayut. The trio of generals is dubbed the “3Ps” – Prayut, Prawit and “Pock” (Anupong).

While Prayut led the coup that toppled the Yingluck government in 2014, Prawit is widely credited with helping the military prolong its power after the 2019 general election.

In June 2020, as chief party strategist, Prawit was elected as Palang Pracharath’s new leader. He won the top seat uncontested, announcing he would accept the post to end internal disputes as it would allow him to handle party infighting. “They [the factions] must be reconciled,” he said.

His rise to party chief was expected to quell an ongoing power struggle within Palang Pracharath, which has many factions.

Continues at

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-rise-to-power-of-big-brother-prawit-wongsuwan-new-caretaker-pm/