Court dismisses Thai head of government
In Thailand, Prime Minister Srettha appoints a convicted politician as minister. Dozens of military-linked senators are displeased and file a lawsuit. The Constitutional Court in Bangkok now removes Srettha from office.
The Constitutional Court in Bangkok has removed Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office. By a vote of five to four, the judges ruled in favor of removing the 62-year-old on the afternoon of the local time. Dozens of senators close to the military filed a lawsuit against the former real estate mogul in May.
The decision came as a surprise to many political observers. The senators accused Srettha of violating regulations by appointing politician Pichit Chuenban as a minister, as Pichit has a criminal record. Pichit was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for contempt of court in a corruption scandal.
Pichit had already stepped down in May amid increasing pressure. Srettha, according to political observers, argued in his defense that the appointment of Pichit was lawful, citing among other things that he had sought legal advice beforehand.
However, the court ruled that the prime minister had violated the rules. Srettha was not present for the announcement of the verdict and was attending other engagements.
The senators' accusation against Srettha centered around his appointment of a politician with a criminal record. Other politicians criticized Srettha's decision, arguing that it was contrary to established principles of good governance.
