Thai court to rule on Prayuth's 8-year tenure

The Constitutional Court of Thailand will give a verdict on Friday on a case that seeks to determine whether Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has already exceeded the eight-year limit as prime minister. CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM REUTERS BANGKOK

Prayuth, who seized power in a 2014 coup before formally becoming prime minister soon after, was suspended five weeks ago as the court deliberated the case filed by the opposition Pheu Thai party, which argues he should have left office last month.

The court must decide whether or not the eight years should include Prayuth's time as the leader of the junta he installed after toppling the Pheu Thai government.

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According to some of his supporters, the eight years should be counted after 2017, when a new constitution took effect, or even from 2019 when an election is held and a new parliament chooses him to lead a coalition government.

The tenure issue is one of the many opposition efforts to remove the retired general, including four parliamentary censure motions, a conflict of interest case over his continued use of a military residence, and months of protests that challenged his leadership and the monarchy.

At least two anti-government groups were planning to gather in Bangkok's central business district on Friday as the court reads its verdict, while police said 300 personnel would be deployed around the court.

Anucha Burapachaisri, the government's spokesperson, urged the public to respect a verdict he said will clear up any uncertainty.

Anucha said that the prime minister is ready to accept the verdict from the constitutional court.

An election is due at the latest by May 7th next year, and Friday's decision will determine whether Prayuth, 68, can seek the premiership again, according to the election commission.

If the court decides Prayuth's eight-year milestone last month, parliament must pick a new prime minister from five of the losing candidates from the 2019 house vote.

Titipol Phakdeewanich, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at Ubon Ratchathani University, said the court verdict will determine the future of Prayuth.

The political parties are gearing up for the election to know whether Prayuth will be able to run again for office.