Bangkok: Secretary-General of the House of Representatives Pol. Lt. Col. Aphat Sukhanan highlighted the constitutional requirements for prime minister candidates, emphasizing that candidates must rely on their current MP votes on the nomination day. This clarification effectively nullifies the aspirations of Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, to propose himself for the prime minister position despite having less than 25 MPs.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Col. Aphat Sukhanan addressed Gen. Prawit's assertion that his candidacy remains valid based on the Palang Pracharath Party's initial 40 MPs when entering parliament. Sukhanan stated that the current number of MPs at the time of the prime minister election is what matters, in line with the constitutional mandate. The 2017 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand outlines in Chapter 8, Cabinet, Section 159, that the House of Representatives must approve a suitable candidate whose name is on the political party's submitted list, requiring endorsement by at least one-tenth of the House's total members.
Sukhanan further explained that the resolution to approve any person as Prime Minister must be conducted through open voting, needing a majority of more than half of the total House members. This stipulation reinforces the importance of current MP support, emphasizing that candidates must have substantial backing to proceed with their nomination.