BANGKOK: Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai was named Acting Prime Minister on Saturday after a special Cabinet meeting moved to ensure continuity in caretaker administration, following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Chusak Sirinil, said the Cabinet unanimously appointed Phumtham, while Dr Prommin Lertsuridej was named Secretary-General to the Prime Minister after the previous office-holder automatically vacated the position.
He added that the meeting also agreed on guidelines for both the incoming Cabinet and the caretaker administration.
“The caretaker Cabinet shall perform its duties in the same manner as a regular Cabinet. However, any new policies that could bind a future government should be deferred, while urgent and necessary matters may proceed as usual,” he said.
He explained that with the premiership vacant, the Cabinet must continue in a caretaker capacity until a new administration is formally appointed, and the law provides for a Deputy Prime Minister to serve as Acting Prime Minister.
On the possibility of dissolving Parliament, Chusak said the issue was not discussed at Saturday’s meeting, which focused only on urgent and necessary matters.
“From a legal perspective, there may be differing opinions among experts. However, as the process of forming a new Cabinet is under way, it is not appropriate to discuss the dissolution of Parliament or similar matters at this stage. The priority is to complete the government formation. If that fails, then such matters can be reconsidered,” he said.
On Friday, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership over ethics and integrity violations.
In a 6-3 ruling, the court found that the 39-year-old had failed to uphold the ethical standards required of a prime minister during a June telephone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. – BERNAMA
