Thailand-
The following is our weekly feature in which we take a glance at the top stories developing in Thailand and what to keep an eye on over the next week.
TPN media has dozens of stories every week and as a result clarifying the ones that our editorial team feel are the most important for our readers, tourists and ex-pats both, is important.
Without further adieu…
1. Prayut Chan-O-Cha returns as Thai Prime Minister
After previously being suspended by the Thai Constitutional Court to review claims by the opposition that he had reached his legal term limit, Prayut was vindicated by the Constitutional Court on Friday, September 30th.
The decision was not unanimous, with 6-3 on the Constitutional Court feeling that Prayut did not reach his term limit, but all the same Prayut returns as Prime Minister this week.
Anti-Prayut protesters have vowed to continue protests against Prayut in the near future, unhappy with the Court’s decision. This will also be something to keep an eye on, although crowds over the weekend were nowhere near the thousands in prior years.
Prayut stated on social media that he was eager to get back to work as Prime Minister after about six weeks suspended, although he had been working his other role as the Defense Minister. It remains to be seen how the decision could affect politics overall, with some online saying that the decision of the Constitutional Court to find Prayut has not reached his term limit may benefit the opposition.
This comes as general elections are due next year, between March to May.
Regardless, Prayut’s role as PM, for now, continues, and the next week should be interesting to see both the direction Prayut takes the country in going forward as well as the response from the opposition in the government and various activist and protest groups who oppose Prayut as PM.
For more about the decision of the Thai Constitutional Court, please click here.
That is all for this week, see you again next weekend!
