Deputy Prawit Becomes Acting PM After Constitutional Court Suspends Prayuth

Thailand's most senior Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has been named acting Prime Minister after the Constitutional Court suspended Prayuth Chan-o-cha, pending the ruling on whether he breached the legal term limit.

• The Court voted 5-4 to instruct Prayuth to vacate the office until judges determine the start and finish dates of his term. Prayuth will continue to serve as Defence Minister, a portfolio he held alongside prime ministership.
• It is expected that the Court will complete its proceedings by the end of September, local media reported, albeit justices did not provide any official timeline.
• Earlier comments from senior government members suggested they were prepared for such a decision, as Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu told reporters that Prawit will become acting Prime Minister if Prayuth is suspended.
• Prawit is the leader of Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the largest party in Thailand's ruling coalition, and was one of the key figures in the 2014 military coup. He had publicly backed Prayuth to continue as Prime Minister for two more years.
• Prayuth's suspension has inspired speculation of a calculated move to replace him amid dwindling support for himself and the ruling party. Members of the Constitutional Court are approved by the military-appointed Senate.
• Thai business leaders expressed confidence that the short-term impact of Prayuth's suspension will be limited, with the Cabinet line-up left unchanged and with FY2023 budget already passed by parliament.