Thailand's Constitutional Court ousted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office in a 5-4 verdict, ruling he violated ethics standards by appointing Pichit Chuenban, a member previously convicted of attempted bribery, to his cabinet. The court's decision is final and not subject to appeal.
The court's decision shook up Thai politics, marked by a chronic instability, coups, street protests, and judicial decisions fueled by a power struggle between the military, the monarchy, and progressive parties.
Srettha is the fourth Thai PM in 16 years to be ousted by the same court in verdicts.
Srettha, aged 62, became Prime Minister through a deal orchestrated by Thaksin Shinawatra to prevent the winning Move Forward Party from taking power. A real estate executive turned politician, Srettha aimed to open up Thailand after years of military rule and introduced economic stimulant policies.
He faced backlash for his policies, including supporting same-sex marriage and economic initiatives like a 500 billion baht donation made through digital wallets aimed at creating jobs and boosting spending in underdeveloped regions.
The case against Srettha was filed by 40 ex-senators appointed by the military, aiming to oust him for appointing a close associate of Thaksin Shinawatra, whose populist party Pheu Thai is part of the ruling coalition.
Srettha's removal requires the Thai parliament to form a new government. A vote scheduled for Friday may dissolve parliament and call for a new election.
The Cabinet will now serve in a caretaker role until a new prime minister is approved by Parliament, with Phumtham Wechayachai, a member of Srettha's party, expected to become the acting prime minister.
The Constitutional Court also dissolved the progressive party Move Forward and banned its leaders for 10 years, accusing them of undermining the monarchy through their reform campaign.
Thailand's turmoil involves a rivalry between the Pheu Thai Party, linked to the Shinawatra family, and the conservative establishment. The decision could threaten a fragile political balance.
Foreign investors have been withdrawing money from Thailand over concerns of political instability and the government's inability to stimulate economic growth.
Thailand's economy is struggling with weak exports, high household debt, and small businesses facing loan difficulties. The court's decision is expected to negatively impact consumer and business confidence, leading to a slowdown in spending and investment.
Thailand's courts are seen as a tool of the royalist establishment to suppress political opponents. Political scientist Prajak Kongkirati criticized the court rulings for upsetting checks and balances in a democratic system.
Sources: NYTimes, APNews, Sky, NBCNews, Time, LATimes, FT, Independent, CNN, VertigoPolitico, LeMonde, NYPost, Der Spiegel, Al Jazeera, Straits Times, Democracy Now, Economic Times, Excelsior, Terra.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
