Interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai maintained his insistence today that he has the authority to ask His Majesty the King to dissolve parliament, but said that, for now, the focus is on forming alliances in preparation for the parliamentary vote to select the new prime minister.
Asked about claims that only a sitting prime minister, not a caretaker, has the power to seek the dissolution of parliament, Phumtham said he stands by his position.
His statement appeared to contradict Pakorn Nilprapunt, secretary general of the Council of State, who reiterated today that only a sitting prime minister, not a caretaker, can seek parliament’s dissolution.
The Council of State is the government’s legal advisory body.
Pakorn declined to say whether it would be unlawful for a caretaker leader to do so, noting that the situation has not yet occurred.
He also explained that the interpretation of constitutional matters rests with the Constitutional Court, which can only consider such issues once they arise.
He added that it is ultimately up to the government to decide what is appropriate, given the range of academic opinions, while the Council of State has already provided its legal view.
Reports say that Phumtham and his Pheu Thai Party are considering a dissolution of parliament, because the People party, with its 143 MPs, appears likely to support Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul for the premiership, rather than Pheu Thai’s candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri.
Dissolving parliament would lead to a general election and block Anutin’s bid to become Thailand’s 32nd prime minister.
It remains debatable, though, whether Phumtham, as caretaker prime minister, can seek a dissolution.
