The Thai Supreme Court has dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing an ex-lawyer, who had previously been jailed, to his cabinet.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Mr Srettha had violated the “rules on ethics” with “the display of defiant behaviour”.
Srettha, 62, who has been in power for just over a year, is the 3rd Prime Minister in 16 years to be removed by the same court.
With this development, an interim leader will be in charge until Thailand’s parliament elects a new prime minister.
“I’m confident in my honesty … I feel sorry, but I’m not saying I disagree with the ruling,” he said at a press conference shortly after the ruling. The court’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Mr. Srettha’s dismissal marks the end of his tenure in Thailand, as other parties and administrations have succumbed to the disproportionate power of the country’s constitutional court.
Politics in Thailand doesn’t have a reputation for being ethical; bribery is commonplace, and ministers with more serious convictions have been granted access to office in the past.
This will be perceived as a political verdict by most individuals in Thailand, even though it is not yet clear who was the driving force behind it.
Some 40 senators submitted a petition to the court in May seeking removal of the PM from his position because of his decision to appoint Pichit Chuenban, who was previously sentenced to six months in jail for attempted bribery.
Five of the nine judges ruled on Wednesday, August 13, 2024, that Mr. Srettha had violated the ethics of his office by appointing a lawyer who has a criminal conviction to his cabinet, even though he resigned after just 19 days.
Thailand’s quest to revive its faltering economy will be complicated by the vote for a new Prime Minister, which will involve a lot of backroom bargaining.
The country’s hopes of putting the political turmoil, which has included two military coups that have shaken it for the past 20 years, behind it, have been misplaced.
Last August, Mr. Srettha took office as Prime Minister, ending nine years of military-controlled governments in Thailand.
He was appointed in a political deal that prevented the young, reformist Move Forward party from winning the most seats and votes in last year’s general election.
Despite the stunning victory, the military-appointed senate prevented Move Forward from setting up the government.
Mr. Srettha took over leadership after Pheu Thai, the second-biggest winner in the election, reached an agreement with other conservative parties to form a ruling coalition without Move Forward.
The constitutional court disbanded the Move Forward party last week for making campaign promises that were not constitutional and banned 11 party leaders from politics for a period of 10 years.
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