ruling of the constitutional court - Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha removed from office
The Constitutional Court in Bangkok has removed Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, from office. In a vote of five to four, the judges ruled in favor of removing the 62-year-old on Thursday afternoon (local time). Dozens of senators close to the military had 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 convicted in 2008 to six months in prison for contempt of court in a corruption scandal. He had already stepped down in May amidst 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 ruling and was attending other engagements.
The removal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by the Constitutional Court has raised questions about the role of the government in overseeing ministerial appointments. The government, in response to the court's decision, has stated that it will review its procedures for vetting ministerial candidates to prevent such incidents in the future.
