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BANGKOK: Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday (Sep 30) ruled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had not exceeded the maximum eight years allowed in office, clearing the way for his return from a five-week suspension.
The ruling will be a big boost for Prayut, a staunch royalist whose premiership has been beset by attempts to unseat him, including four house censure motions, a conflict of interest case and protests challenging his leadership and the monarchy.
“The accused … has been in the prime minister position not exceeding the limit stipulated by the constitution,” a judge said in a 25-minute televised reading of the verdict.
“Therefore he is not disqualified.”
Prayut ruled as head of a military council after he overthrew an elected government when he was army chief in 2014.
He was junta leader and prime minister until an election in 2019, held under a military-drafted constitution in which an eight-year limit for a prime minister was set, after which a new parliament chose him to stay on as premier.
Deciding a case filed by the opposition Pheu Thai party, the court said a majority of judges had concluded Prayut’s tenure started in 2017, meaning he could serve until 2025, if re-elected.
Pheu Thai, whose government was toppled in the 2014 coup, had maintained he had reached the eight-year mark last month and asked the court to set the record straight on whether his time as premier in a junta should be included.
The judges ruled six to three in Prayut’s favour.
Prayut, 68, had been suspended from office while the court deliberated the case.
“The prime minister respects the court decision and wants to thank all that have given him encouragement,” said government spokesperson Anucha Buraphashaisri.
“(He) will continue to try and use full capacity … to transform Thailand and lead the country towards a golden age of prosperity for all Thai people.”
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