In a dramatic turn of events, Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office, citing a “gross” breach of ethics in his appointment of a minister with a criminal record. This marks the fourth time in 16 years that the court has toppled a Thai premier, sparking concerns of political instability and a potential shake-up in the governing coalition.
The real estate mogul’s dismissal after less than a year in power triggers a parliamentary vote to select a new leader, plunging the country into uncertainty. Thailand has been plagued by two decades of coups, court rulings, and political upheaval, which have brought down multiple governments and parties.
The court’s 5-4 ruling condemned Srettha’s actions as a “serious violation of ethical standards,” highlighting the judiciary’s significant influence in Thai politics. This decision comes on the heels of the court’s dissolution of the anti-establishment Move Forward Party last week, which has since regrouped under a new name.
The timing of Srettha’s removal could not be more challenging, with Thailand’s economy struggling to gain momentum. The government forecasts a mere 2.7% growth for 2024, lagging behind regional peers, while the country’s stock market has plummeted 17% this year.
Srettha’s Pheu Thai Party has been at the center of Thailand’s political turmoil, with two of its governments toppled by coups in a long-standing feud between the party’s founders, the Shinawatra family, and their rivals in the conservative establishment and royalist military.
