Political Turmoil in Thailand After PM’s Ouster

In a stunning turn of events, Thailand‘s Prime Minister Srettha has been removed from office by the Constitutional Court. This decision has thrown the nation into another round of political uncertainty.

The court ruled in a tight 5-4 vote, stating that Srettha violated ethical standards when he appointed Pichit Chuenban, a former lawyer who served time in prison for contempt of court back in 2008. This move was deemed unacceptable by the court.

Following the court’s decision, Pichit resigned from his cabinet role just a day earlier, hoping to shield Srettha from further backlash. Srettha expressed his disappointment, saying he didn’t expect such a ruling and maintained that he acted with integrity during his time in office.

Now, with Srettha’s departure, the parliament must gather again to elect a new prime minister, leading to more political uncertainty in a country that has seen its fair share of upheaval over the years.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is likely to step in as caretaker prime minister and is expected to oversee the transition as parliament is scheduled to meet on Friday to select a new leader.

This political drama comes just after the same court had ruled against the popular Move Forward Party for its efforts to reform the law regarding insulting the monarchy, highlighting the ongoing tensions in Thailand’s politics.

The Pheu Thai Party, which has been at the center of Thailand’s political turmoil, plans to meet soon to decide on its candidate for prime minister. Among the potential candidates is Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter, who could follow in the footsteps of her father and aunt, both of whom have served as prime ministers before.

As the political landscape shifts once again, it remains to be seen who will take the helm and how this will impact the country, which is facing economic challenges alongside its political ones.