Caretaker govt cannot resign, acting justice minister insists
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet cannot resign but will have to perform as a caretaker government until a new administration takes office, acting Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri said Tuesday.
Chaikasem announced on TV Pool at 1pm that the caretaker Cabinet was required to stay in office under the Constitution's Article 181.
He was responding to an ultimatum by Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), for the Cabinet to resign in 24 hours to pave the way for establishment of the "people's council".
“The Cabinet is working based on the principle of collective responsibility. We have been appointed by His Majesty the King. But Suthep tried to establish another government without any legal support. The legal government considered that PDRC’s actions were violating His Majesty the King's royal prerogative power, he said.
He also said that PDRC has no power to summon government officials.
The announcement was made after the consultation of government agencies including the Council of State.
The Nation
