Bangkok: The Constitutional Court has dismissed a petition seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha over the appointment of Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao as a minister. The court determined that the petitioner lacked the standing to file the petition.

According to Thai News Agency, the court’s decision was unanimous in not accepting the petition filed by Mr. Peerapong Traipakitchanakul. The petition requested the court to determine whether Gen. Prayut’s status as Prime Minister should be terminated under the Constitution, Section 170 in conjunction with Section 82. This was based on the appointment of Lt. Col. Thammanat as Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives despite his admission of an offense as per an Australian court’s verdict, raising issues of ethics and honesty.

The court clarified that Mr. Peerapong did not possess the legal right under Section 82 of the Constitution to submit such a petition. The petition failed to meet the criteria and conditions set under Section 170 of the Constitution in conjunction with Section 82, thereby leading to its dismissal without consideration.