Government sources revealed that after Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai submitted a draft royal decree for the dissolution of the House of Representatives on September 2, the Privy Council returned the draft to the Secretariat of the Cabinet today.
The attached cover letter explained that the submission of the draft royal decree for the dissolution of the House of Representatives did not comply with required procedures for seeking royal assent, citing unresolved legal disputes regarding whether or not such a move is permissible under current circumstances.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General of the Office of the Council of State has advised that a caretaker government does not have the authority to seek royal endorsement for the dissolution of parliament. Accordingly, the Privy Council could not proceed with submitting the draft for royal signature.
It has been reported that the Cabinet Secretary-General has formally notified Phumtham, the individual who submitted the draft, of the Privy Council’s decision by forwarding the relevant documents for his attention.
