Somsak downplays hearsay of Prayut, Prawit taking 2-year turns to run country

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters JUSTICE MINISTER SOMSAK Thepsuthin today (Oct. 25) downplayed fresh speculation that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan might probably take turns between themselves to run the country for two years each after the next general election. Somsak, who concurrently acts as head of …

Prayut tight-lipped over calls for Palang Pracharath Party membership

By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha has remained tight-lipped as to whether he may apply for membership of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party so he would likely be named a partisan candidate for head of a post-election government again. When asked by reporters today (Oct. 24), Prayut stopped short of either confirming or …

Pridiyathorn could be thorn in Prayut’s side

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER DEPUTY PRIME minister Pridiyathorn Devakula could probably be a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha if he was named head of the current government's economic cabinet, partisan sources said over the weekend. Pridiyathorn who performed as deputy premier in charge of financial and treasury affairs under …

Prayut dodges bags of fermented fish sauce, literally

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha literally evaded bags of fermented fish sauce and other unpleasant liquids which some political activists might have otherwise thrown at him during his visit to Nonthaburi today (Oct. 13). Prayut was advised by his entourage to skip a spot on his scheduled trip to visit villagers …

Ratsadorn group urges Prayut to dissolve House as soon as possible

By Thai Newsroom Reporters RATSADORN GROUP of pro-democracy activists today (Oct. 6) called for the dissolution of the House of Representatives as soon as possible to return power to the people by way of a general election. Ratsadorn group leader Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon announced that the people in all sectors of society would prefer to see …

Thammanat won’t return to Prawit’s camp as long as Prayut remains in power

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters THAI ECONOMIC PARTY leader Thammanat Prompao will definitely not return alongside 15 MPs under his command to the ruling Palang Pracharath Party as long as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remains in power, confirmed a Thai Economic MP today (Oct. 6). Thammanat, who was deposed from the Prayut cabinet following last …

Prayut unlikely to be named post-election PM: Academic

By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha would no longer be named head of a post-election government with about three quarters of a year for him to prolong his rule from now, according to a prominent academic. Thammasat University law lecturer Prinya Thaewanarumitkul forecast today (Oct. 4) Prayut would find no major party to …

Anti-Prayut protesters mourn the country’s future 

  FOUR ACTIVIST groups joined together in holding a demonstration at the Victory Monument this afternoon (Oct. 1) to demand that the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha quit with participants dressed in black to mourn the country's future, Matichon newspaper said this evening. This protest was mounted after the Constitutional Court ruled that Gen. Prayut's eight-year …

Prawit to be named in lieu of Prayut as Palang Pracharath’s PM candidate 

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER-cum-Palang Pracharath party leader Prawit Wongsuwan will likely be named partisan candidate for head of government in the next general election, a coalition MP confirmed today (Oct. 1). Pracharath MP Veerakorn Kumprakop said Prawit will likely be named one of a trio of Palang Pracharath candidates for head …

Police gear up for rallies, tell protesters they aren’t their enemy

  NEW National police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas said in preparing to handle demonstrations taking place today (Oct. 1) those joining them are urged to not see policemen as their enemy because it is their duty to maintain law and order and if the protesters stick to the legal boundary there would not be …

Crisis of confidence in Constitutional Court looms: Academic

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN the Constitutional Court's performances might probably be brewing among all sectors of society following today's (Sept. 30) court ruling in support of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's prolonged rule, according to a noted academic. Chulalongkorn University's law lecturer Pornsan Liangboonlertchai remarked that the contentious court ruling …

Lawyer: 3 retired generals win but the country loses

  A LAWYER from the activist group Khana Lom Ruam Prachachon (Group for the Melting of the People Together) said  at a rally in front of Central World department store this evening (Sept. 30) said he does not accept the Constitutional Court's ruling that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s eight-year tenure has not ended, Thai Rath …

Doubts cast over righteousness of Constitutional Court’s ruling on Prayut

By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE PHEU THAI Party cast doubts over the righteousness of the Constitutional Court's ruling delivered today (Sept. 30) in support of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's prolonged rule. The largest opposition party issued a statement to cast doubts over the righteousness of the Constitutional Court's ruling with respect to relevant sections of …

Prayut returns to power with Constitutional Court support

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha was today (Sept. 30) judged by the Constitutional Court to have not as yet completed his eight-year tenure, thus being legally allowed to come back as head of government again after a five-week suspension. The Constitutional Court voted 6:3 to endorse Prayut's comeback to power and …

Prayut verdict: Constitution Court imposes strict control till Oct. 3 morning

  THE Constitutional Court tightened security at the building in Government Complex where it is located from 7 p.m. last night (Sept. 29) till 6 a.m. Monday morning (Oct. 3) as it is due to give its verdict on suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's eight-year tenure from 3 p.m. today, Amarin TV said. Mr. Worawit …

Prawit dismisses fears of pro-Prayut vs anti-Prayut protesters clashing

By Thai Newsroom Reporters CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER Prawit Wongsuwan today (Sept. 29) dismissed fears that one group of street demonstrators might possibly clash head-on with another over a court-suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha outside Government House or elsewhere tomorrow. The caretaker premier who concurrently heads the ruling Palang Pracharath Party referred to the group of …

Thaksin wonders if Prawit would be happy with Prayut’s possible comeback

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER PREMIER THAKSIN Shinawatra yesterday (Sept 27) said he wondered if Caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would be truly satisfied with a possible comeback of a court-suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shortly. During a Care Clubhouse live podcast, Thaksin said it would be unlikely for Prawit who concurrently heads the …

Minister warns activists not to move on Prayut verdict day

  WITH THE Constitutional Court due to give its verdict on suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's eight years in power maximumly provided by law next Friday September 30, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn today (Sept. 30) urged activists to not make any moves on that day, Matichon newspaper said. The charter’s clauses …

Prayut says he will respect the Constitutional Court’s ruling

  SUSPENDED Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said this afternoon (Sept. 14) that he has confidence in the justice system and affirmed he will respect the Constitutional Court's ruling on his eight-year tenure regardless of the outcome, Matichon newspaper said. Earlier today the Constitutional Court said it will give its verdict on a petition signed by …