Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her hope to join the Government on August 29, the day the Thai Constitutional Court is scheduled to issue a ruling on her Prime Minister position - according to her sharing at an online conference attended by senior ministers on August 26.
Deputy Minister of Education Rinthipond Varinvatchararoj said that Ms. Paetongtarn said she missed the feeling of working with her colleagues and wanted to continue taking on her responsibilities. "Everyone is cheering on the Prime Minister," Rinthipond added.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong, who is also the Secretary General of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, confirmed that cabinet members had expressed strong support for Ms. Paetongtarn at the meeting.
Sorawong Thienthong also dismissed speculation that the Pheu Thai Party plans to establish a "war room" to monitor the August 29 ruling on Paetongtarn Shinawatra's prime ministership, while emphasizing that the consensus among party members on the issue was clear.
Mr. Sorawong also denied rumors that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's father, will attend a meeting of Pheu Thai Party lawmakers this week.
Thai media reported that Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra will not be present in person at the Constitutional Court to listen to the verdict. On August 29, she will watch the trial from the Government Building.
Mr. Somkid Chueakhong - Deputy Secretary General of the Prime Minister - revealed that Ms. Paetongtarn will go to the Government House at noon on August 29 and wait there for the ruling of the Constitutional Court.
Ms. Paetongtarn will accompany cabinet ministers of the Pheu Thai Party. Party members will visit the Government Building from 3pm to 4pm on August 29 to express their spiritual support, regardless of the outcome. Ms. Paetongtarn's lawyer will be present in court to listen to the verdict.
The lawsuit against Ms. Paetongtarn is related to her phone call about border tensions with President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen. The group of 36 Thai Senators filed a complaint in court, arguing that her statements in the phone call violated ethics. The Thai Constitutional Court suspended Ms. Paetongtarn from her position as Prime Minister pending trial.
If convicted, Ms. Paetongtarn, 39, would be the third member of the Shinawatra family to be removed from office. Thaksin was overthrown in the 2006 coup, while Paetongtarn's teacher, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted by the Constitutional Court in early 2014, just weeks before another military coup.
Mr. Somkid Chueakhong also denied rumors that the Pheu Thai Party plans to spend up to 2 billion baht (about 62 million USD) to buy the votes of lawmakers if the court decides not to benefit Ms. Paetongtarn.
This is just speculation. The coalition's votes remained unchanged. If the verdict is not positive, we will vote for Chaikasem Nitisiri, another candidate of Pheu Thai. If the results are positive, the government will continue to operate normally. The government is not worried, said Somkid Chueakhong.
Chaiskaem, 77, a former chief engineer, is the third of three prime minister candidates nominated by Mr. Pheu Thai when forming a government.
Regarding those who spread rumors about the amount of 2 billion baht, Mr. Somkid Chueakhong jokingly said: "Put that money in for snacks for your children."
