Privy councillor and former prime minister Tanin Kraivixien has been named interim president of the royal advisory body, replacing Gen Prem Tinsulanonda who is serving as Regent pro tempore.
His selection was announced by the Privy Council Chambers on Wednesday.
Mr Tanin, an 89-year-old British-educated former Supreme Court judge, was appointed the country’s 14th prime minister a few days after Adm Sa-ngad Chaloryu staged a coup and ousted the government of MR Seni Pramoj following the massacre of student protesters on Oct 6, 1976.
The coup-installed Tanin government stayed in power for only a year, when Adm Sa-ngad again took power and pressed Mr Tanin to resign in 1977. King Bhumibol appointed him to the Privy Council later that year.
Under to Section 24 and 25 of the 2007 constitution, the Privy Council president shall act as Regent pro tempore until the heir to the throne is crowned king. The regent cannot concurrently serve as the Privy Council president and the serving councillors must choose a new interim president from among their ranks.
Gen Prem, 96, will re-assume the role of Privy Council president automatically once his duty as acting Regent ends. The provisions relating to the monarch under the 2007 charter are retained and remain in effect under the 2014 interim charter.
