() – Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed from office after a court ruled he had violated the constitution, in a shock decision that plunges the kingdom into further political uncertainty.
The verdict comes a week after the same court dissolved the popular progressive party Move Forward, which won the majority of seats in last year’s election, and ban its leaders from politics for 10 years.
The Constitutional Court in Bangkok ruled Wednesday that Srettha, a real estate tycoon and relative newcomer to politics, had violated ethics rules by appointing a lawyer who had served a prison sentence to the Cabinet.
Five of the court’s nine judges voted to dismiss Srettha and his Cabinet, ruling that the prime minister was “well aware that he had appointed a person who seriously lacked moral integrity.”
A new government must now be formed, and the ruling coalition led by Pheu Thai will nominate a new candidate for prime minister, who will be voted on by the 500-seat parliament.
The verdict represents a new stir in the already turbulent Thai political landscape, in which supporters of change have often clashed with the establishment, a small but powerful clique of military, monarchical and business elites.
In the last two decades, dozens of legislators have been disqualified, Parties have been dissolved and prime ministers have been overthrown in coups d’état or by judicial decisions, with the judiciary playing a central role in the current battle for power.
Srettha’s appointment as prime minister last August ended three months of political deadlock following the 2023 election, but led to his Pheu Thai party entering a governing coalition with its long-time military rivals.
The lawsuit against Srettha was filed in May by a group of 40 military-appointed former senators who sought to remove him from office over the Cabinet appointment of Pichit Chuenban, a close aide to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pichit was jailed for six months in 2008 for contempt of court after attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials in a land case involving Thaksin.
Srettha denied any wrongdoing and has said that Pichit, who has since resigned, was properly investigated and that the party followed proper procedures.
Srettha’s popularity has declined in recent months, polls show, due to opposition and delays to his key economic policies.
But Wednesday’s ruling surprised political analysts, who believed the court would side with the Prime Minister.
Srettha’s priority since taking office has been to fix the country’s sluggish economy.
The deposed leader had touted a 500 billion baht ($13.8 billion) donation plan through digital wallets that he said would create jobs and spur spending in underdeveloped regions. The plan has not yet been launched.
Srettha also set a goal for Thailand to attract more foreign investment and become a global tourism hub, expanding visa-free policies and announcing plans to host major events in a bid to boost the economy.
The populist Pheu Thai party is the latest incarnation of parties aligned with former leader Thaksin, overthrown by the military in a coup in 2005.
Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire and former owner of Manchester City football club, is the head of a famous political dynasty that has played a prominent role in Thai politics over the past two decades.
His spectacular return from a 15-year self-imposed exile last year coincided with the Senate’s vote to name Srettha the country’s 30th prime minister.
That vote secured Pheu Thai as head of a multi-party coalition. Move Forward, which won a surprise election victory in May 2023 with its popular reform programme, was forced to go into opposition.
This coalition had proposed sweeping reforms to take advantage of growing discontent with the way Thailand is governed, including amendments to lese majeste laws, which criminalize insults to senior members of the royal family.
In July 2023, Conservative senators prevented Move Forward from forming a government due to its reform campaign. And last week, the Constitutional Court accused the party of “undermining the monarchy” and ordered its dissolution, in a blow to the vibrant progressive movement. Former members have since reconstituted the party under a new name.
With Srettha now out of power, political negotiations will resume, with coalition partners vying for Cabinet posts and the top spot.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, would be among the possible candidates for prime minister.
This news is in development and will be updated soon.
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