Thai court decides fate of embattled prime minister

Thailand’s Constitutional Court is expected to announce on Wednesday whether it will consider a legal challenge that could result in Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha being ousted from office.

The kingdom’s 2017 constitution bans the prime minister from serving more than eight years in total, and opposition parties say Prayut, who came to power in a 2014 coup, has reached the limit.

If the court agrees to hear the case, Prayut could be suspended and an acting prime minister appointed.

Several hundred anti-government protesters rallied outside Bangkok’s Democracy Monument on Tuesday ahead of the court ruling, and more demonstrations are planned.

Supporters of the 68-year-old leader argue that the clock on his rule began when the 2017 constitution was introduced, or even after the 2019 general election.

If the court follows that logic, Prayut could technically remain in office until 2025 or 2027 – if he wins a general election due in March.

The former army chief came to power in a military coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra’s democratically elected government.

He led the junta regime for five years and remained prime minister after the 2019 national elections.

The stern, outspoken Prayut is increasingly falling out of favor with voters. A recent opinion poll found that two-thirds of those polled wanted him to leave office immediately.

Under Prayut’s oversight, the kingdom posted its worst economic performance in 30 years and its government has also been criticized for its handling of the pandemic.

Youth-led pro-democracy rallies in Bangkok in 2020 drew tens of thousands at their peak, and a key demand of the movement was Prayut’s resignation.

On Wednesday, police had placed shipping containers on some streets near government buildings in anticipation of new protests.