Caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra admitted Thursday she was worried about a looming charter court ruling in the Thawil Pliensri transfer case that could threaten her future as prime minister and that of the entire cabinet.
Ms Yingluck is to face the Constitutional Court on May 6, less than two weeks from now.
Last month the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the transfer of Mr Thawil as National Security Council secretary-general was unlawful and ordered him to be reinstated.
Mr Thawil was removed in September 2011, paving the way for then police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree to replace him and Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, a relative of Ms Yingluck, to succeed Pol Gen Wichean as police chief.
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A group of senators led by Paiboon Nititawan lodged a petition seeking the ruling on Ms Yingluck’s status with the charter court following the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday agreed to give Ms Yingluck another 15 days, starting April 18, to prepare her defence in the Thawil case.
The prime minister has until May 2 to submit her defence.
The court also ordered Ms Yingluck and three others, Mr Paiboon, Mr Thawil and Pol Gen Wichean, to testify on May 6.
Speaking to reporters at the Defence Ministry Thursday, Ms Yingluck said she will consult with her lawyers whether she will testify in person to the court on May 6.
''I am worried about this issue as the Supreme Administrative Court has already ruled on the case. But I will do my best to clarify the matter,'' Ms Yingluck said, adding that she did not want to speculate on the future. The prime minister also said she hoped the charter court will rule on the case based on the facts and the rule of law.
Charter court spokesman Pimon Thampitakpong said that on May 6 the court is expected to either fix the date for the ruling on the case or seek additional documents if evidence is still incomplete.
Meanwhile, former Democrat prime minister Chuan Leekpai said the problems plaguing the country now had to do with the government's mishandling of policies and using unlawful approaches in administration.
Speaking at the 16th anniversary of the Constitutional Court under the theme of "Political reform under the rule of law,'' he said the southern insurgent violence and judicial killings were cases in point.
"The rule of law is a part of good governance. Adhering to the law to administer the country will bring peace to the country. However, there will be new problems if the government resorts to unlawful approaches (in dealing with national administration),'' he said, alleging that on many occasions, the rule of law has been violated.
The government has not put the right people in the right job, he added.
Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the King Prajadhipok's Institute, said the Constitutional Court should have the authority to decide on its own what section of the charter to alter, if such content warrants amending.
He stressed upholding the rule of law was imperative in allowing the country to progress and anyone who undermines the rule of law also destroys democracy.
National reform should cast aside populist policies and change them so they are more in tune with state welfare programmes since they use state budget and they incur debt burdens to be passed on to future governments, Mr Borwornsak said.
He added the country's current tax structure should also be changed.