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Bangkok Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Paetongtarn's cabinet status challenged
Suspended prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come under mounting political pressure as she prepares to be sworn in as minister of culture despite a Constitutional Court order that temporarily bars her from performing her duties. The court is expected to take at least a month before ruling on whether to remove Ms Paetongtarn from office on ethical grounds for her handling of a telephone call with former Cambodian premier Hun Sen. Acting prime minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit will lead Ms Paetongtarn and others in a swearing-in ceremony for the reshuffled cabinet on Thursday. However, several senators argue this move may be unconstitutional and ethically problematic. According to a Senate source, multiple senators are discussing whether to pursue a legal interpretation from the court. Two primary issues are under consideration: Ms Paetongtarn's self-nomination for the post of culture minister while she is already under an ethics investigation, and the role of Mr Suriya, who will lead Ms Paetongtarn in taking the oath of office, even as the court deliberates on whether to remove her from the premiership entirely. 'Only government-affiliated legal experts believe Ms Paetongtarn can proceed in taking the oath and serving as a minister,' said the Senate source, asking not to be named. 'But most independent legal experts agree that this is constitutionally questionable and likely impermissible.' (Story continues below) Court clarification needed The source added this situation is unprecedented and requires judicial clarification. 'If Ms Paetongtarn and Mr Suriya believe their actions do not violate ethical standards, then they may proceed — but the Senate is prepared to submit a petition to the Constitutional Court to establish a legal precedent, if and when the act occurs.' Tul Sitthisomwong, representing the protest group United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty, on Wednesday submitted a formal petition to the Senate Speaker, urging the upper chamber to request a court ruling on whether Ms Paetongtarn should be disqualified as culture minister. The petition argues she lacks the constitutional qualifications to serve as a cabinet minister under Sections 160 (4) and (5) of the charter, as she is currently suspended from performing her duties as prime minister. Mr Suriya said that ordinarily, Deputy Prime Minister and newly appointed Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai would assume the acting premiership. However, Mr Phumtham is unable to take on the role, having vacated his previous positions as deputy prime minister and minister of defence, and is awaiting a royal audience to take the oath of office for his new portfolio on Thursday. Mr Suriya said that once Mr Phumtham completes the swearing-in process, he will formally resume the post of acting prime minister. A signed appointment document has already been prepared. Chousak Sirinil, the PM's Office Minister, said he believed the critics are mistaken to claim that Ms Paetongtarn is not qualified for the ministerial post. 'To interpret it in such a way implies the prime minister has been found guilty or has definitively lost her qualifications,' he said.
Bangkok Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Thousands expected at anti-government rally
Police have advised the public to avoid four main roads near Victory Monument on Saturday afternoon as demonstrators seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will turn the area into a large rally site. The Metropolitan Police Bureau on Friday recommended staying away from the sections of Din Daeng, Phahon Yothin, Phaya Thai and Ratchawithi roads leading to the monument. The rally is scheduled to begin at 10am and end at 9pm. The stage will be erected facing Din Daeng Road, organisers said. Police estimate there will be around 5,000 demonstrators, while the rally organisers expect at least twice that number. The protest is being held by a group calling itself Ruam Palang Paen Din Pok Pong Athipatai ('United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty'). Among the group's leaders is former red-shirt stalwart Jatuporn Prompan, who has become an outspoken critic of the Shinawatra family, and Sondhi Limthongkul, who led the yellow-shirt protests that shut down Bangkok's two airports in 2008. Some artists and entertainers will be joining them in what is expected to be the first major demonstration against Ms Paetongtarn. They will demand that she step down after a the leak of an embarrassing recording of a conversation she had with former Cambodian premier Hun Sen on June 15. Ms Paetongtarn called him 'uncle' and was heard calling Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang one of her opponents. The protesters will urge all coalition parties to abandon the Pheu Thai Party to put pressure on Ms Paetongtarn to give up administrative power. Mr Sondhi on Friday urged people to turn up at the monument to oust the prime minister accused of demonstrating ill intentions towards the country. 'We are talking about the prime minister who seems to want to give Thailand to her 'uncle',' the media mogul said. (Story continues below) Early arrivals One of the group's leaders, Pichit Chaimongkol, said on Friday afternoon that protesters were already arriving, which prompted organisers to move up Saturday's originally scheduled start time from 3pm. Panthep Puapongpan, a leading group member, said activities would start at 10am with a Buddhist ceremony commemorating the 84th anniversary of the Victory Monument to honour fallen heroes, adding that the highlight of the rally itself would be the singing of the national anthem at 6pm. He said the group had received sufficient donations to fund the rally, with an estimated surplus of over 20 million baht to be donated to the 2nd Army Region to enhance its defence capabilities. Mr Jatuporn warned against any attempts to prevent people from other parts of the country from joining the protest, urging provincial governors nationwide not to interfere. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has called on people planning to join the protest to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could deepen national divisions. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said a command centre would be set up to oversee the rally for safety and order purposes.
