KUALA LUMPUR – Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin faces a potential ousting this week as the constitutional court prepares to rule on his controversial appointment of a minister with a prior criminal conviction.
This follows a recent decision by the court to dissolve the nation’s main opposition party and impose a decade-long political ban on its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, according to AFP.
Srettha is under scrutiny for allegedly breaching ethical guidelines by appointing Pichit Chuenban, a lawyer with strong ties to the family of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to a ministerial position.
Pichit had previously been sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for a corruption-related crime.
Pichit stepped down from his position to shield Srettha, but despite this, the constitutional court chose to proceed with the case, which was brought forward by army-appointed senators.
Srettha, who leads a multi-party coalition government under Pheu Thai, said that Pichit had been thoroughly vetted.
According to local media, the prime minister has hinted at the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle if he remains in office.
Should Srettha be removed from his position, Pheu Thai would be required to put forward a new candidate for the prime ministerial role.
While the constitutional court has previously dismissed prime ministers, analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak believes it is unlikely that Srettha will be removed from office.
“I think he will survive because it is hard to find a replacement,” he told AFP.
“He also hasn’t done anything wrong, and he is hardworking.”
Srettha, a real estate developer who ventured into politics last year, has faced substantial opposition to his policies since assuming office, with a June poll indicating that a majority of Thais are against his agenda.
The European Union, the United States, the United Nations and various human rights organisations have condemned the court’s decision to dissolve Pita’s Move Forward Party (MFP), with the EU criticising the move for undermining democratic transparency in Thailand.
On Friday, remaining members of the MFP established a new movement called The People’s Party, aiming to bring about change in the next national election, slated for 2027.
Thailand has experienced political instability for decades, marked by a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. – August 12, 2024