Privy Council of Thailand
คณะองคมนตรีไทย khana ongkhamontri thai ( | |
Agency executive |
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Website | Privy Council |
The Privy Council of Thailand (
In recent years, the council and its president in particular, have been accused of interfering in
History
The first privy council in Siam was established by a royal decree on 8 May 1874, by King Chulalongkorn (or Rama V). The king, educated by Westerners, was keen on copying the system of government of the absolute monarchs of Europe. At first he created two councils: the "Privy Council of Siam" (Thai: ที่ปฤกษาในพระองค์; RTGS: thi prueksa nai phra ong) (49 members) and the "Council of State" (Thai: สภาที่ปรึกษาราชการแผ่นดิน; RTGS: sapha thi prueksa ratchakan phaendin) (12 members, name later changed to "Council of Ministers" (Thai: รัฐมนตรีสภา; RTGS: ratthamontrisapha)). The privy council was created to deal with legislative affairs while the latter became an early version of the cabinet.
Chulalongkorn was succeeded by his son King
King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) who succeeded his brother in 1925, completely overhauled the system and created instead three councils: The "Supreme Council of State of Siam" (Thai: อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา; RTGS: aphiratthamontrisapha) (composed of five senior princes, equivalent to the former Council of State); The "Council of Secretaries" (Thai: เสนาบดีสภา; RTGS: senabodisapha) (former Council of Ministers); and the Privy Council of State. The role of the Privy Council was relegated to minor legislative affairs, while the Supreme Council became Prajadhipok's main body of advisors.[5]
On 24 June 1932, a group calling themselves the
It was not until fifteen years later that the 1947 constitution of Siam recreated the Privy Council under King Bhumibol Adulyadej, with a name change to "Supreme Council of State" (Thai: คณะอภิรัฐมนตรี; RTGS: khana aphiratthamontri). This council existed from 1947 to 1949 and was composed of:
- Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Chainat, President of the council
- Prince Dhani Nivat, Prince Bidyalabh Bridhyakon
- Prince Alongkot, Prince Adisorn Udomsak
- Phraya Manavaratsevi (Plod Vichear na Songkhla)
- Police General Adul Aduldejjarus
Two years later, under the 1949 Constitution of Thailand, the council was renamed the "Privy Council of Thailand" (
Members
The present constitution stipulated that the council is composed of no more than eighteen members. The members of the Privy Council or Privy Councillors are appointed and removed at the pleasure of the king alone, but appointments must be countersigned by the President of the Privy Council.[6]
The councillors cannot be partisan and therefore cannot be members of the
After being appointed the councillors must take the following oath in the presence of the king to assume office:
"I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal to His Majesty the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of the country and of the people. I will also uphold and observe the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand in every respect."
A councillor vacates office upon death, resignation, or at royal command.
President
The President of the Privy Council of Thailand is the head and chief councillor of the privy council. The king retains the power to appoint and remove the president, however the President of the
Functions
Thailand portal |
The 2017 Constitution gave the privy council many roles and powers. These are mostly associated with the issues surrounding the head of state and the monarchy.
Regency
If the king is incapacitated or for whatever reason and cannot appoint a regent, the privy council will submit to the National Assembly the name of a suitable individual, who must then be approved by a vote. During the period where there is no regent the President of the Privy Council shall be the regent pro tempore. This case is also applicable if the regent is incapacitated and cannot perform his duties. When this happens the President of the Privy Council shall be replaced in his duties to the council by a president pro tempore.
Palace Law of Succession
In regards to the amendment of the 1924 Palace Law of Succession, the king must ask the privy council to draft an amendment. After the king's approval and signature, the President of the Privy Council will notify the president of the National Assembly that will then countersign such amendment.
Vacancy on the throne
When the throne becomes vacant it is the duty of the privy council to submit to the cabinet and to the
Other functions
Apart from these constitutionally mandated functions the privy councillors also perform other duties. For instance, they carry out other duties in the royal household and on royal projects. Several councillors are members of the Mahidol Foundation, while Dr. Chaovana Nasylvanta is the Director of the
List of presidents of the Privy Council
Name | Dates as President | |
---|---|---|
1 | Prince Dhani Nivat | 18 June 1949 – 25 March 1950 |
2 | Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi | 25 March 1950 – 7 March 1951 |
3 | Prince Alongkot | 13 March 1951 – 29 November 1951 |
– | Jit na Songkhla | 27 May 1963 – 14 July 1963 |
4 | M.L. Dej Snidvongs | 24 March 1975 – 8 September 1975 |
5 | Sanya Dharmasakti | 5 December 1975 – 4 September 1998 |
6 | Prem Tinsulanonda | 4 September 1998 – 13 October 2016 |
– | Thanin Kraivichien | 14 October 2016 – 2 December 2016 |
(6) | Prem Tinsulanonda | 2 December 2016 – 26 May 2019 (died in office) |
7 | Surayud Chulanont | 2 January 2020 – Incumbent |
Notable members
The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama IX)
- Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi
- Prince Dhani Nivat
- Prince Alongkot
- Plot Wichean na Songkhla
- Adul Aduldejjarus
- Prince Vivadhanajaya Jayanta
- Prince Nakkhatra Mangala
- Jit na Songkhla
- Hun Huntagun
- Dej Snidvongs
- Sak Senanarong
- Laihud Tititlanon
- Srisena Sombutsiri
- Gumpan Utaravanit
- Thongchai Chotikasatian
- Chalermlap Tavivong
- Sanya Dharmasakti
- Prince Vongsanuwat Devakula
- Pragob Hutasing
- Uttasit Sittisunton
- Jinda Boonyakom
- Prince Chakkapan Pensiri
- Samran Padtayakul
- Chao Na Sinwan
- Thanin Kraivichien
- Gun Israsena na Ayudhya
- Usni Pramoj
- Gumton Sintavanon
- Prem Tinsulanonda
- Chulanop Snidvongs na Ayudhaya
- Siddhi Savetsila
- Adulakit Kitiyakara
- Pichit Kullavanich
- Umpon Senanarong
- Jumrus Khemajaru
- Thawisan Ladawan
- Thepkamol Devakula
- Sakda Mokamakkul
- Kasem Wattanachai
- Palakorn Suwannarat
- Sawat Wattanayakon
- Surayud Chulanont
- Santi Thakral
- Chumpol Patjusanon
- Uttanit Ditumnat
- Chanchai Likitjitta
- Supachai Phungam
- Chalit Pukbhasuk
- Teerachai Nakwanich
- Wirach Chinvinitkul
The Privy Council of Thailand (Rama X)
On 2 December 2016, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reappointed General Prem Tinsulanonda president of the privy council. General Prem became regent pro tempore at the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 13 October 2016. After Vajiralongkorn accepted the invitation to become king he was able to appoint his own council.[7]
On 6 December 2016 the king appointed ten councillors,[8] seven from his father's council and three new members. Eight members from the previous council were not reappointed.[9]
As of December 2023 the council was composed mostly of retired military leaders and members of the judiciary, with 19 members:
- Surayud Chulanont
- Kasem Watanachai
- Palakorn Suwannarat
- Chalit Pukbhasuk
- Supachai Phungam
- Atthaniti Disatha-Amnarj
- Paiboon Koomchaya
- Dapong Ratanasuwan
- Charunthada Karnasuta
- Kampanat Ruddit
- Pongthep Nuthep
- Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya
- Amphon Kittiamphon
- Chalermchai Sitthisart
- Johm Rungsawang
- Nurak Mapraneet[10]
- Kasem Chankaew
- Bundit Malaarisoon
- Prayut Chan-o-cha
See also
- Monarchy of Thailand
- Chakri Dynasty
- Regent of Thailand
- 1924 Palace Law of Succession
- Government of Thailand
- Politics of Thailand
- 2006 Thai coup d'état
- Supreme Council of State of Siam
References
- ^ "ͧ?????? - Privy Councillor". Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ McGeown, Kate (21 September 2006). "Thai king remains centre stage". BBC News. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Gen Prem appointed president of the new King's Privy Council". Bangkok Post. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ a b Chachavalpongpun, Pavin (12 October 2018). "Beware the Thailand King's New Power Play". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "ͧ¤Á¹µÃÕ - Privy Councillor". Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ Constitution of Thailand Archived 2007-06-28 at archive.today
- ^ "Wissanu explains royal succession process". Bangkok Post. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Thai king appoints new members to royal council". www.atimes.com. Reuters. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "King appoints 10 members to his Privy Council". Bangkok Post. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ "Nurak appointed privy councillor". Bangkok Post. May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.