All eyes are on today's Constitutional Court meeting as public anxiety grows over when it will pass a ruling on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's eight-year tenure controversy.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to meet today to examine the minutes of the now-defunct Constitution Drafting Committee's (CDC) 501st meeting that occurred on Sept 11, 2018.
The court's judges believe the minutes of the 501st meeting -- which was held the day before the CDC was dissolved to approve the minutes of the 500th meeting on Sept 7, 2018 -- would allow them to establish the CDC's intent when it passed the eight-year term limit.
Last week, the court discussed the opposition's petition regarding Gen Prayut's tenure controversy and ordered the House of Representatives secretary-general to forward the minutes of the 501st meeting.
Gen Prayut and former CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan had already submitted their statements to the court.
A source said the court would review the evidence to determine if it is sufficient to make a ruling on Gen Prayut's time in office. If the judges agree they have enough information to make a decision, a date for the ruling will be scheduled.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday Gen Prayut's tenure controversy was not raised at the cabinet meeting.
He said the public should await the court's decision.
Sodsri Sattayatham, who co-drafted the 1997 charter and is a former election commissioner, said all 20 CDC members led by Mr Meechai should give their statements to the court explaining why the term limit was introduced.
"It is better to straighten things out with the charter writers, so the court doesn't have to make any 'interpretations'. The meeting minutes are merely a summary, and won't be as good as statements from the individual drafters," said Ms Sodsri.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, said Gen Prayut should leave the post.