Thailand’s prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has been suspended from office by the constitutional court.
The court agreed to hear a case brought by opposition MPs, who say Prayuth, who came to power in a coup in 2014, should have left office this week. Under Thailand’s constitution, prime ministers are barred from ruling for more than eight years.
According to international media, The court said in a statement that Prayuth would be suspended until a verdict was reached.
“The court considered the petition and supporting documents and deems the facts according to the request indicate reasonable grounds to suspect that there is a case as requested,” the court said in a statement. “Thus, a majority vote (five against four) for (Prayuth) to be suspended as prime minister, effective 24 August 2022, until the court issues a verdict.”
The deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, a former army chief and close ally of Prayuth, will act as interim leader, according to the government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri.
Prayuth has been given 15 days to respond to the petition. It is not clear when a verdict will be issued.
