Confusion reigns over expiry date of Prayut’s rule, but history hints at extension

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s worries over his remaining time in office may have evaporated following an important resolution on the Constitutional Court president’s tenure.

 

Worawit Kangsasitiam can stay on in his post, after a powerful selection committee ruled on April 22 that his term will expire when he has served for nine years or reaches the age of 75, whichever comes first.

 

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The unanimous decision was made by five members of the panel — the Supreme Court president and panel chair, the House of Representatives speaker, the opposition leader, the Supreme Administrative Court president, and a representative of the Election Commission.

 

The panel has nine members in total. However, the Office of the Ombudsman, National Anti‑Corruption Commission, State Audit Office, and National Human Rights Commission failed to nominate their representatives, according to Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew, who joined the panel in his capacity as opposition leader.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/confusion-reigns-over-expiry-date-of-prayuts-rule-but-history-hints-at-extension/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-09

 

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[smedly]

maybe it might be a good idea to have a vote - let the people decide on who runs the country - if you don't get a vote then ### #

[jacko45k]

Oh, just go, place is stagnating!

[flyingtlger]

There seems to be a common denominator with despots.......

[ThailandRyan]

Hint, hint, hint, time to leave your not wanted Mr. I was thrust into power by a coup and never wanted to be PM....

[sammieuk1]

He is like a limpet with scabies you will never be able to shake him off just scratch at it ???? 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s worries over his remaining time in office may have evaporated following an important resolution on the Constitutional Court president’s tenure.

The fix is in... Constitutional court is owned by Prayut & Co

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Worawit Kangsasitiam can stay on in his post, after a powerful selection committee ruled on April 22 that his term will expire when he has served for nine years or reaches the age of 75, whichever comes first.

So why is he allowed to work well beyond the normal retirement age, are their no capable, eligible workers to take over the reigns.

Or is this just a protectionist move to secure the dynasty? 

[ThailandRyan]

44 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So why is he allowed to work well beyond the normal retirement age, are their no capable, eligible workers to take over the reigns.

Or is this just a protectionist move to secure the dynasty? 

Protectionist move to keep the money flowing into his coffers so he can enjoy his retirement in luxury.  Girls fanning him with palm fronds and feeding him grapes like a Roman......

 

[jacko45k]

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So why is he allowed to work well beyond the normal retirement age, are their no capable, eligible workers to take over the reigns.

Or is this just a protectionist move to secure the dynasty? 

Well that hardly applies in politics does it? Biden is older than color TV. 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Confusion reigns

it's what happens when buffoons run a country

[RichardColeman]

33 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Girls fanning him with palm fronds and feeding him grapes like a Roman......

 

You have strange tastes in girls !

[lujanit]

Prayuth was never voted in the first place, just like the 250 senators.Thailand is not a democracy it is a club to harvest money for those in power.

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

So why is he allowed to work well beyond the normal retirement age, are their no capable, eligible workers to take over the reigns.

Or is this just a protectionist move to secure the dynasty? 

He has the soldiers and the guns, I think that the only people who can put him out will be another General.

[JonnyF]

Dog and Pony show.

 

He'll stay as long as he wants. If the constitution doesn't allow it he will simply change the constitution - again!!

[alyx]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well that hardly applies in politics does it? Biden is older than color TV. 

You meant black and white surely ????

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, lujanit said:

Prayuth was never voted in the first place, just like the 250 senators.Thailand is not a democracy it is a club to harvest money for those in power.

Thailand is, according to the former junta appointed CDC that wrote the 2019 Constitution approved in a public referendum, a "Thai Democracy" and not a "Western Democracy" in order to allegedly reflect the nation's unique history of governance, ie., kingdom, junta and pro-authoratiarian/elite society. It has "Thainess." 

While Prayut was elected by a majority of the combined members of the House and the junta-Senate, a majority of Parlianent ministers (selected by public in a general election) specifically voted in favor of of the Senate participating in such an election through the 2019 Constitution referendum. 

But what was essentially a rigged referendum and general election makes it difficult, if not improbable, that a new election will be free and fair as the electorate majority evolves towards more liberal politics.

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, alyx said:

You meant black and white surely ????

Maybe even electricity!

[Mr Meeseeks]

His old mate Suthep has just come out of hiding to ready the protestors and create instability should, as predicted, Pheu Thai win a majority.

 

I'm sure there will be many shenanigans in the meantime. Plenty of time to hand out political bans, offer 'incentives' and create a situation where they can appear to 'win' legitimately. 

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well that hardly applies in politics does it? Biden is older than color TV. 

There is no retirement age in the US Constitution for POTUS. That would violate the Constitution as age discrimination. Thus, it is the electorate who decides whether age is a factor in election of government and congressional officials. Not that there has been national interest in term limitations that would require an amendment of the Constitution.

What constitutes "normal retirement age" for public officials? There's no standard.

But credit goes to Thailand to place some age limitations for some crucial public offices. But the problem has been more to who gets appointed to make the rules, who approves the rules and who enforces the rules. In a "Thai democracy," those processes have not been the exclusivity of the Thai electorate.

 

[mtls2005]

Nine years?

 

Section 158. The King appoints the Prime Minister and not more than thirty-five
other Ministers to constitute the Council of Ministers having the duties to carry out the
administration of the State affairs in accordance with the principle of collective responsibility.
The Prime Minister must be appointed from a person who is approved by the
House of Representatives under section 159.

The President of the House of Representatives shall countersign the Royal
Command appointing the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total,
whether or not holding consecutive term. However, it shall not include the period during
which the Prime Minister carries out duties after vacating office. 

 

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Worawit Kangsasitiam can stay on in his post, after a powerful selection committee ruled on April 22 that his term will expire when he has served for nine years or reaches the age of 75, whichever comes first.

Surely they know which comes first?

 

 

 

Thai law is flexible, for some. Less so for others.

 

 

[Gulfsailor]

14 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

There is no retirement age in the US Constitution for POTUS. That would violate the Constitution as age discrimination. Thus, it is the electorate who decides whether age is a factor in election of government and congressional officials. Not that there has been national interest in term limitations that would require an amendment of the Constitution.

What constitutes "normal retirement age" for public officials? There's no standard.

But credit goes to Thailand to place some age limitations for some crucial public offices. But the problem has been more to who gets appointed to make the rules, who approves the rules and who enforces the rules. In a "Thai democracy," those processes have not been the exclusivity of the Thai electorate.

 

The only reference in the US constitution toward the age for holders of public office is discriminatory as it sets minimum age requirements. It would be far better to remove those and introduce maximum age requirements. 

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

The only reference in the US constitution toward the age for holders of public office is discriminatory as it sets minimum age requirements. It would be far better to remove those and introduce maximum age requirements. 

Why?  Why discriminate against older folks who might be a good leader or have good ideas.

[Hawaiian]

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

He has the soldiers and the guns, I think that the only people who can put him out will be another General.

So did Ferdinand Marcos.  Now it looks like his son Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong) is reviving the Marcos Dynasty.

[Andycoops]

Oh dear. The worst possible news of an extension to the incompetent, miserable Muppets tenure.

[jerrymahoney]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

The Prime Minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total,
whether or not holding consecutive term. However, it shall not include the period during
which the Prime Minister carries out duties after vacating office. 

That is from the unofficial translation of Section 158. A lot will depend on what is the exact Thai word which has been translated as "term".

[BritManToo]

He'll be gone when he's dead or defeated by force of arms.

[zzaa09]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The fix is in... Constitutional court is owned by Prayut & Co

It's the company aspect that should be disconcerting. 

The real and only influence behind the curtains. 

[heybruce]

"However, the start date of the eight-year limit remains a key legal question. Is it when Prayut assumed his post in 2014, when the current Constitution came into force on April 6, 2017, or when Prayut was appointed by royal command as PM on June 9, 2019, after the general election in March that year."

 

In other words, Prayut doesn't want to count the time he was self-appointed PM as part of his eight year time limit.  Total BS.

 

I will always remember the posters who supported the 2014:  "Prayut is a good man", "Give the general a chance", etc.  No doubt they will be posting the same thing about whoever is in charge after the next coup.

[heybruce]

13 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Thailand is, according to the former junta appointed CDC that wrote the 2019 Constitution approved in a public referendum, a "Thai Democracy" and not a "Western Democracy" in order to allegedly reflect the nation's unique history of governance, ie., kingdom, junta and pro-authoratiarian/elite society. It has "Thainess." 

While Prayut was elected by a majority of the combined members of the House and the junta-Senate, a majority of Parlianent ministers (selected by public in a general election) specifically voted in favor of of the Senate participating in such an election through the 2019 Constitution referendum. 

But what was essentially a rigged referendum and general election makes it difficult, if not improbable, that a new election will be free and fair as the electorate majority evolves towards more liberal politics.

"approved in a public referendum"

 

Let's put that part in perspective:  The approval was presented as the only option to have an election, no one was allowed to present objections to the proposed constitution, the junta used government resources to educate the people about how to vote, and, once approved, the "approved" constitution was changed to accommodate someone who can't be named.

 

There were many defenders of this fraud on ThaiVisa.