According to Thailand's Nation newspaper, on July 15, Dr Prommin Lertsuridej, General Secretary of the Thai Prime Minister's Office, announced that Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra had officially submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court for a 15-day extension to submit an apology in the case related to the leaked recording of her conversation with Cambodian Senate Chairman Hun Sen.
The case originated from a petition submitted by Senate members, asking the Constitutional Court to decide whether Ms. Paetongtarn should be removed from the position of Prime Minister due to this recording. On July 1, the Constitutional Court suspended Ms. Paetongtarn from her position as Prime Minister and asked her to explain the allegations within 15 days, no later than July 16.
If the court approves the extension, the deadline for submitting Ms. Paetongtarn's complaint will be moved to July 31. The court will then forward her response to the filers, giving them 15 days - until August 16 - to counter. Ms. Paetongtarn may then be given the opportunity to provide further clarification.
The Constitutional Court is being asked to wait another 15 days before issuing a verdict, with the verdict expected to be issued around September.
The request for an extension will be considered at the judges' meeting scheduled for July 17.
