Prayuth Decides to Stick Around as Defence Minister – Even With Parliament Saying No
In a move that feels straight out of a political cliffhanger, former Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha kept his defence‑minister hat on and posted a tweet announcing he’s not backing down. It’s the first time the man’s been on the mic since a court last week told him to step away from the top seat, while it looks into whether his years in military rule stack up against the constitutional cap on time served.
What the Tweet Says
On Thursday (Aug. 25), Prayuth used the prime minister’s office Twitter handle to say: “I will continue to do my duty and responsibility as defence minister for the people and Thailand every day.”
In plain English, “I’m still your soldier‑in‑chief, except you can’t call me Prime Minister for the time being.”
The Court’s Rub‑And‑Weave
- Constitution says no more than 8 years as PM, but the question is, do we count those 6+ years that he led the military coup‑driven junta?
- Opposition party filed a petition, arguing those years should count, making the total exceed the limit.
- Result? The Constitutional Court most likely will sit down for a hot debate, but when the verdict lands is still uncertain.
New Acting PM? Who Cares?
With Prayuth at the sidelines, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is now the top dog for the second‑biggest economy in Southeast Asia. He sat for his first day in the role, turned a deaf ear to reporters, and gave no detailed guidance on what’s next. Classic “CEO—no comments” style.
When asked if his team is doing anything different, the cabinet spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri simply said, “The cabinet is functioning as normal.” No drama, just back‑to‑business.
Why It Matters
This is just the latest episode in a long run of Thai politics that’s been a bit of a “Hollywood coup” saga: two coups, bloody protests, and a swelling chorus of citizens demanding the military step off the political stage.
Who’s watching? Anyone, really, from the “We want a peaceful parliament” crowd to those who think the military is the only stable shepherd. Whatever your stance, this 2025 episode reminds everyone that Thailand keeps flipping the political switch more often than a light bulb in a stormy night.
Fun Fact (Or Not)
Despite the seriousness, the “Twitter-sized” announcement shows Prayuth’s flair for memes and direct communication. Who needs boring speeches when you can captivate your nation with a short, punchy tweet?
