A Thai court has officially removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office due to his controversial appointment of a former lawyer with a criminal history to his cabinet. The Constitutional Court found that Srettha breached ethical standards, citing “defiant behavior” as a significant factor in their ruling.
At 67 years old, Srettha’s tenure lasted less than a year, making him the third prime minister in 16 years to be ousted by this court. An interim leader will take over until the parliament reconvenes to elect a new prime minister.
In response to the ruling, Srettha expressed confidence in his integrity, stating at a press conference, “I’m confident in my honesty … I feel sorry, but I’m not saying I disagree with the ruling.” This landmark decision adds to the ongoing political instability in Thailand, a nation that has experienced numerous coups, with the latest military takeover occurring in 2014.
Despite a youth-driven reformist party winning the majority in the last election, the military-aligned senate prevented the Move Forward party from forming a government. The opposition Pheu Thai party, which secured the second-largest share of votes, formed a coalition without the Move Forward party and nominated Srettha as their candidate.
Srettha’s appointment marked the end of nearly a decade of military rule in Thailand. On Wednesday, the court’s decision, which was narrowly passed with a 5-4 vote, was declared final and non-appealable. This ruling follows a petition from about 40 senators seeking Srettha’s removal due to the appointment of Pichit Chuenban, who had previously served six months in prison for attempted bribery.
