Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for violating ethical standards. The court ruled 5:4 against Srettha citing his appointment of a controversial Cabinet member, Pichit Chuenban, who was previously imprisoned for attempting to bribe a court official.
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The court’s ruling was based on Srettha Thavisin’s decision to appoint Pichit Chuenban as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Pichit, a former lawyer had been convicted of contempt of court in 2008 and served a six-month jail sentence.
This conviction, according to the court disqualified him from holding a ministerial position, as it violated the ethical standards expected of public officials in Thailand.
On August 14, 2024, Judge Punya Udchachon delivered the ruling with a narrow 5-4 vote by the Constitutional Court to remove Srettha from office.
The decision hinged on the assertion that Srettha Thavisin was fully aware of Pichit’s past and still chose to appoint him.
With Srettha Thavisin’s removal Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is expected to step in as the caretaker premier.
The controversy centers around Pichit Chuenban, whom Srettha Thavisin appointed as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office during a Cabinet reshuffle in April.
Pichit was previously sentenced to six months in jail in 2008 for attempting to bribe a judge with $55,000 in cash in a case involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Although Pichit resigned from his position after the controversy resurfaced, the court ruled that Srettha Thavisin was aware of Pichit’s past and still proceeded with the appointment.
Srettha Thavisin’s removal is a setback for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which has faced challenges over the years including two coups that ousted its governments.
Despite this some believe the Pheu Thai Party still holds an advantage with the possibility of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra becoming the next prime minister.
The court’s decision also puts the fragile truce between Thaksin and the conservative establishment at risk.
Thaksin’s return from 15 years of self-exile in 2023 was facilitated by this truce, which also enabled Srettha Thavisin to become premier.
Thailand’s politics has been fraught with instability for the past two decades by frequent military coups and court rulings that have toppled multiple governments.
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The Constitutional Court often seen as an arm of the royalist establishment, has played a key role in these upheavals including the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won the most seats in the 2023 general election.
The MFP was dissolved on the grounds that it proposed an amendment to a law against defaming the monarchy. The party has since regrouped as the People’s Party.
With Srettha Thavisin removed from office Thailand’s Cabinet will assume a caretaker role. Phumtham Wechayachai, the Commerce Minister and deputy prime minister is expected to become the acting prime minister.
The caretaker Cabinet will manage the country’s affairs until a new prime minister is elected by parliament.
Parliament must convene to elect a new prime minister. The process could take time as there is no specific deadline for parliament to hold the vote.
The new prime minister will be chosen from a list of candidates submitted before the 2023 elections. A candidate needs to secure more than half of the lower house’s 493 votes (at least 247 votes) to be elected.
If no candidate secures the required majority, parliament will reconvene to vote again with the possibility of new nominations.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a 37-year-old daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra and a leader within the Pheu Thai Party is a strong contender. If elected she would become Thailand’s third Shinawatra prime minister following her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former justice minister and a stalwart of the Pheu Thai Party, Chaikasem is another possible candidate.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the head of the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest partner in the coalition government and the current Interior Minister, Anutin is also in the running. He has previously served in both military-backed and civilian governments.
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the Energy Minister and leader of the conservative Thai Raksa Chart party, Pirapan is another candidate.
Srettha Thavisin’s government had been attempting to jumpstart the economy with policies such as a 10,000-baht ($286) handout plan and initiatives to promote Thai cultural products and tourism.
Thailand’s economy is expected to grow by just 2.7% in 2024, lagging behind its regional peers. The country’s main stock index (SETI) has also been the worst-performing market in Asia this year, down about 17% year-to-date.
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