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Thai court removes PM Srettha from office in ethics case
The judges were reading a verdict in a case seeking Srettha's dismissal. They had yet to announce whether he would remain in office. He denies wrongdoing.
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Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin meets with the media at the Puea Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 23, 2023. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn appointed former property mogul Srettha Thavisin as the country's new prime minister on August 23. (AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)
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hailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing to his cabinet a former lawyer who served jail time, raising the spectre of more political upheaval and a reset of the governing alliance.
Real estate tycoon Srettha becomes the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be removed by verdicts by the same court, after it ruled he violated the constitution by appointing a minister who did not meet ethical standards.
Srettha's removal after less than a year in power means parliament must convene to choose a new premier, with the prospect of more uncertainty in a country dogged for two decades by coups and court rulings that have brought down multiple governments and political parties.
The Court earlier said Srettha had violated rules on ethics over his appointment to cabinet of a lawyer who served time in prison.
The judges were reading a verdict in a case seeking Srettha's dismissal. He denies wrongdoing.
The court met Wednesday to decide whether Srettha should be kicked out of office in an ethics case that could plunge the kingdom into fresh political turmoil.
Srettha is accused of breaching ethics rules by appointing a lawyer with a criminal conviction to his cabinet, by a group of former senators seeking his removal from office.
Constitutional Court judges began deliberations around 9:30 am (0230 GMT) and are expected to give their judgment around 3:00 pm.
The ruling comes a week after the same court dissolved the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) and banned its former leader from politics for 10 years.
Thailand has seen numerous prime ministers brought down by legal rulings and coups in the past two decades, including by the Constitutional Court.
If the ruling goes against him, Srettha will be out of office after less than a year in power, but observers say the signs this time look positive for the property tycoon, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Visiting a Buddhist temple on Wednesday morning, Srettha told reporters he had slept well and would carry on with his normal schedule for the day, saying he was not unduly worried about the court case.
"I am concerned about many things, but the ball is not in my court. The legal process will take its course," he said.
If Srettha is kicked out, parliament will have to choose a new prime minister.
