Thailand‘s Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office on Wednesday for violating the constitution over a cabinet appointment. The court stated that Srettha had grossly breached rules on ethics.
The decision followed allegations that Srettha’s actions were not in compliance with constitutional provisions related to ethical conduct.The court did not detail the specific cabinet appointment in question.
In a 5-4 decision, the judges determined that Srettha violated regulations by selecting a lawyer with a criminal record to serve in his cabinet. The case was initiated by a group of former senators who had been appointed by Thailand’s previous ruling junta.
This ruling follows a decision made by the same court last week, which resulted in the dissolution of the primary opposition party, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and a 10-year ban from politics for its former leader.
Judge Punya Udchachon, while delivering the court’s judgment, said, “The court rules by a majority of five to four that the ministerial position of the prime minister is terminated under the constitution, because he has not shown honesty in appointing this minister.”
Reacting to the verdict, the sacked PM said that “he respects the court verdict” even though he couldn’t “anticipate this decision”.
The legal proceedings against Srettha revolved around the selection of Pichit, an attorney connected to the relatives of Thaksin, a wealthy ex-prime minister who previously owned Manchester City and has long been a target of Thailand’s traditionalist, monarchy-supporting, and military-aligned elite.
In an attempt to protect Srettha, Pichit, who had received a six-month prison sentence in 2008 for a corruption-related crime, resigned from the cabinet.
Srettha assumed power less than a year ago, leading a coalition government spearheaded by Pheu Thai, after negotiating an agreement with parties affiliated with the military.
The decision followed allegations that Srettha’s actions were not in compliance with constitutional provisions related to ethical conduct.The court did not detail the specific cabinet appointment in question.
In a 5-4 decision, the judges determined that Srettha violated regulations by selecting a lawyer with a criminal record to serve in his cabinet. The case was initiated by a group of former senators who had been appointed by Thailand’s previous ruling junta.
This ruling follows a decision made by the same court last week, which resulted in the dissolution of the primary opposition party, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and a 10-year ban from politics for its former leader.
Judge Punya Udchachon, while delivering the court’s judgment, said, “The court rules by a majority of five to four that the ministerial position of the prime minister is terminated under the constitution, because he has not shown honesty in appointing this minister.”
Reacting to the verdict, the sacked PM said that “he respects the court verdict” even though he couldn’t “anticipate this decision”.
The legal proceedings against Srettha revolved around the selection of Pichit, an attorney connected to the relatives of Thaksin, a wealthy ex-prime minister who previously owned Manchester City and has long been a target of Thailand’s traditionalist, monarchy-supporting, and military-aligned elite.
In an attempt to protect Srettha, Pichit, who had received a six-month prison sentence in 2008 for a corruption-related crime, resigned from the cabinet.
Srettha assumed power less than a year ago, leading a coalition government spearheaded by Pheu Thai, after negotiating an agreement with parties affiliated with the military.
Source Agencies
