Caretaker Thai PM steps in after suspension of Prayut amid concerns over term-time row

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon began his first day as interim prime minister on Aug 26 as the courts review suspended leader Prayut Chan-ocha's tenure.

Prawit declined to answer media questions on Aug 26 while Prayut insisted he will continue working as defense minister, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper.

Anucha Burapachaisri, a government spokesman, told the media that the Cabinet continues to function as normal.

With judges agreeing by five votes to four, the Constitutional Court suspended Prayut's premiership on Aug 24 as it decided to hear a petition from the main opposition party arguing that Prayut has reached the eight-year tenure limit.

Prayut, 68, was selected as the interim prime minister and was later royally endorsed as the 29th prime minister of the country on Aug 25, 2014.

Prayut's supporters said his current term started in 2017, when a new constitution took effect, or even after the 2019 general election. This means Prayut can stay in power until 2025 or 2027.

Prayut has been given 15 days to respond to his suspension.

Responding to the court's statement, Anucha said Prayut respects the decision of the court and would suspend his duty as the prime minister, but he would remain as the defense minister.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said the suspension of Prayut's top role will not affect international confidence in Thailand nor the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, summit to be held in Thailand in November.

Don said the Cabinet already had a detailed plan on how to continue functioning so the suspension came as no surprise.

Pitch Pongsawat, assistant professor and head of the Department of Government of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science, said the suspension of Prayut's premiership created a constitutional crisis as people are debating his tenure limit based on different interpretations of the constitution, which is unclear.

"This is the first time that we have this situation that the prime minister has been suspended. The term limit is also new," said Pitch.

But given growing public dissatisfaction with Prayut, Pitch said it could be a good thing for the top leader to step aside for a while to cool the situation down.

"Some people think it does not make any difference because Prawit is actually more powerful than Prayut," said Pitch. Prawit was the army commander-in-chief in 2004 and 2005. He also served twice as the defense minister.

Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said he believes the court ruling on Prayut's tenure will come out before the APEC summit begins and it is likely that Prayut will be able to return and chair the event.

The suspension will have an impact on Thailand's economy because it makes Thai politics look unstable, Yuttaporn said.

Business groups, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, or TCC, say Prayut's suspension will not affect Thailand's economic recovery or foreign investor confidence.

"Even if a court ruling does not come in time, there are still the caretaker prime minister and other cabinet ministers," said TCC Vice Chairman Visit Limlurcha.

Wanwichit Boonprong, a political scientist at Rangsit University, said it is unlikely for Prawit to make any major moves or stir things up while acting as caretaker prime minister.

Thailand's next general election will be held in 2023.