Thai Constitutional Court removes PM Srettha from office

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ousted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office, ruling that his appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a cabinet minister was unconstitutional. The decision is expected to plunge Thai politics into turmoil, coming just a year after the most recent regime change.

The ruling stems from a petition filed in May by 40 senators, who argued that Srettha’s April appointment of Pichit was unconstitutional. Pichit had previously been sentenced to six months in jail for bribery, which the senators claimed disqualified him from serving as a minister under the constitution. According to constitutional provisions, a minister must “not have behavior which is a serious violation of or failure to comply with ethical standards,” and any breach of this requirement results in the termination of their ministership.

Srettha defended the appointment process, stating that it was conducted legally and with due diligence. However, he acknowledged that he would respect the court’s final and unappealable decision.

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The court’s ruling represents a significant shift in Thai politics, sparking concerns about further instability in the country’s governance.

Srettha, a property tycoon, became prime minister last August after his Pheu Thai Party emerged from post-election chaos to form the current coalition government, ending nine years of military rule.

Wednesday’s court decision is likely to raise concerns in the business sector, which now faces uncertainty over political stability and policy continuity. Key initiatives, such as a nationwide digital money handout and Thailand’s electric vehicle push, are now in question.

With the incumbent leader stepping down, lawmakers will convene for a parliamentary vote to select a new prime minister. The choice must come from the prime ministerial candidates that political parties submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the last general election.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has two other candidates: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former attorney general.

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