The suspension of MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra as Bangkok governor is to clear the way for a full investigation and to show the regime does not apply double standards, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.
In his first public comments on invoking Section 44 to suspend MR Sukhumbhand, the premier said the governor can return to work if he is cleared of allegations made against him.
However, Gen Prayut did not make it clear whether the governor would return to the governorship.
"Which position he takes up [if he is cleared by the probe] depends on appropriateness," Gen Prayut said.
The suspension order follows a recommendation by the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) that the governor should temporarily step down after the state audit agency uncovered irregularities in the spending of 39 million baht by City Hall to stage a New Year light display.
At the time, MR Sukhumbhand shrugged off the OAG's recommendation.
Gen Prayut said the public should not jump to conclusions that the governor has done something wrong.
"We're giving him a chance to defend himself [against the allegation]. We're not saying corruption is involved. We're treating his case like other cases to show that no double standards are at play," he said.
"The use of Section 44 does not suggest that the governor is in the wrong. It is for him to enter an inquiry and examination process.
"If he is not in the wrong, he can return to work but it depends where."
Gen Prayut said the suspension order has nothing to do with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) management of flooding and it involves a matter of transparency.
"Had it involved flooding problems, I would have invoked Section 44 against every governor."
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, has distanced the party from the issue despite the fact that MR Sukhumbhand is a party member.
"The governor has to clarify [the allegations] like others. It depends on the result of the investigation," Mr Abhisit said.
The Democrat Party earlier announced it would not get involved in any of MR Sukhumbhand's decisions, saying the governor did not allow the party to associate itself with his work.
"I understand that people have mixed feelings about this. I've apologised to the public that we can't help with the BMA's work," Mr Abhisit said.
Mr Abhisit said the party was not concerned about the next governor election at this stage. He said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has not lifted its ban on political gatherings to allow the party to hold political discussions.
"The party hasn't discussed any potential candidates and if it will affect the party as a whole. We will have to wait for the outcome of the investigation too," he said.
A source at the Democrat Party said executives have been looking for potential candidates, including former Bangkok MPs, after MR Sukhumbhand alienated himself from the party.
Potential candidates include Korn Chatikavanij, Ongart Klampaiboon and Atavit Suwannapakdee. The names of the former manager of the Thai women's football national team, Nuanphan Lamsam, and former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan also come up, the source said.
"No one has expressed interest as they are afraid of being shunned by the party. They also don't want to draw unnecessary attention because there are a lot of factors to be considered. Moreover, it remains to be seen who their potential opponents are," the source said.
However, Mr Korn told the Bangkok Post yesterday he is not interested in the governorship position and he would not put himself forward as a candidate at the next election.
In the last election, he had come up against MR Sukhumbhand for the party candidacy because several party members at the time feared the party "could not control" MR Sukhumbhand.
Mr Korn said he was dedicating the next three years to exploring the country's problems and he would rather help solve problems at the national level.