Thailand's constitutional court on Wednesday suspended Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha from official duties starting Aug 24 after it decided to hear a petition to review his legally mandated eight-year term limit.
The court announced the move in a written statement sent to media. It was unclear when it would deliver a final ruling on the petition brought by the main opposition party.
Prayuth took power in 2014 when he led a coup to overthrow an elected government.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to take over as interim leader of the Southeast Asian country.
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor and John Geddie)