Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made a poignant visit to the bustling market beneath the Ploenchit expressway on Ploenchit Road in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district around noon on Wednesday. This all transpired just hours before the Constitutional Court was set to decide his political fate. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
As the clock struck, the Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin guilty of a severe ethical breach. His crime? Appointing ex-convict Pichit Chuenban as a cabinet minister. The court’s judgment led to Mr. Srettha being dismissed after an office tenure lasting less than a year!
Wednesday’s ruling didn’t just target Mr. Srettha; it disbanded the entire cabinet. However, the ministers will hang onto their roles in a caretaker capacity. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will step up as acting prime minister until a new premier is chosen by the House of Representatives.
At Government House, Mr. Srettha confronted the press, expressing a respectful, albeit resigned tone towards the court’s decision. “I don’t have any authority left,” he admitted, adding, “The authority is now with the caretaker prime minister.”
If Mr. Phumtham cannot assume the caretaker role, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is next in line, Mr. Srettha confirmed. Future administrations will need to address critical policies such as the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, the Land Bridge initiative, and various soft power projects, insisted the ex-business tycoon turned politician.
Despite the setback, Mr. Srettha retains a yearning to serve his nation, albeit in different capacities. The court’s nine judges reached the verdict by a narrow 5-4 margin. The prime minister was notably absent from the hearing, sending his secretary-general, Prommin Lertsuridej, in his stead. Citing an original complaint by 40 former Upper House members, the senators Direkrit Jenkrongtham, Somchai Sawaengkarn, and Prapan Koonmee, the court was asked to consider Sections 170 (4) and (5) of the charter regarding the ethics of cabinet ministers.
As for Pichit, his bribery conviction in 2008 for attempting to influence Supreme Court officials painted an unsavory picture. He and two colleagues had tried to sway court officials by handing over 2 million baht stashed inside a lunch box. This unscrupulous act marked him unfit, by critics, to be a cabinet minister.
The unraveled tale is deeply intertwined with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra in the infamous Ratchadaphisek land purchase case. Both faced severe repercussions, with Thaksin receiving a two-year prison sentence.
Pichit, having served just four days as a PM’s Office minister, resigned to purportedly mitigate legal trouble for Mr. Srettha. However, the Constitutional Court upheld the case against Mr. Srettha while dropping it against Pichit. In his defense, Mr. Srettha argued that his business background left him somewhat blind to the intricate rules of ministerial appointments. Still, the court found this inexcusable given the well-publicized Pichit case.
The judges pointed to an urgent meeting on August 29 last year convened by Mr. Srettha to assess Pichit’s qualifications, evidence of his awareness of potential issues. Given that Pichit’s criminal record for contempt of court in 2008 highlighted an ethical breach, Mr. Srettha was left with little defense.
As the 30th prime minister of Thailand, Mr. Srettha was elected during a joint House and Senate session on August 22, securing 482 votes in favor, with 165 against and 81 abstentions. But what happens now in the wake of his dismissal?
The political landscape finds itself at a critical juncture. Parties must deliberate on their next premier candidate, selecting from the lists submitted before May 2023. This decision-making process is expected to entail considerable political bargaining, with cabinet positions up for grabs in return for support.
The House of Representatives will gather to vote for the next premier, this time without Senate voting interference. The timeline for this process remains unspecified. To secure the prime ministerial seat, a candidate needs the endorsement of over half of the current 493 lawmakers – at least 247 votes. Failing this, the process repeats until a candidate garners sufficient support.
The current 11-party coalition government commands 314 seats within the House. Main contenders include Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who, despite her young age, faces potential reservations from her influential father, Thaksin. Other names include Chaikasem Nitisiri, a long-serving Pheu Thai stalwart, though his age and health might be prohibitive.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party is seen by many as a plausible compromise candidate, likely holding sway for top honors. Additionally, Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the military-aligned Palang Pracharath Party, stand as potential suitors for the position.
Gen Prawit’s involvement in previous coups against Shinawatra-led governments introduces a historical, albeit controversial, twist to the ongoing political saga. Thailand now awaits the unfolding of its next political chapter with bated breath.
This whole situation is ridiculous! How did Srettha not know about Pichit’s history?
Exactly! Ignorance is not an excuse, especially when you’re the Prime Minister!
But come on, politicians make mistakes too. The real question is whether he learned from it.
Learning from mistakes is one thing, but the ethical breach was severe. A leader should have known better.
I think the punishment was harsh. Just another way to oust a PM that the establishment doesn’t like.
This is a coup in disguise. They’re using ‘ethics’ as a smokescreen!
You might be right. The judicial system in Thailand often seems political.
Are you suggesting all the judges were biased? That’s a huge accusation without solid proof.
The political landscape in Thailand is always so fragile!
Sure is. I feel like every PM is doomed from the start.
And they wonder why investors are hesitant. Stability is key!
Good riddance! Anyone supporting corrupt figures like Pichit should be gone.
Agreed, ethics should be non-negotiable.
You can’t argue with that. If you lay with dogs, you get fleas.
So who do you think will be the next PM?
Maybe Anutin Charnvirakul. He seems like a reasonable choice.
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has a good chance, I think. Experienced and less controversial.
It’s sad that the whole cabinet gets affected by one man’s mistake.
But isn’t it their job to work as a team? One goes down, they all do.
Sam, that’s a bit harsh. They didn’t all make the same unethical decision.
Thailand’s judiciary is too powerful. Maybe it’s time for reform?
I think it’s important to have a strong judiciary to keep checks and balances.
Are we just ignoring the fact that Thaksin still wields a lot of influence?
I wish politicians would put as much effort into policy as they do into these power struggles.
The next PM better prioritize the digital wallet scheme. We need progressive policies.
True, but without stability, those policies won’t mean much.
Veronica, the digital wallet scheme is cool but it’s not a fix-all solution.
This decision was way too close for comfort. 5-4 margin? Really makes you doubt the system.
Srettha should’ve been more diligent about his appointees. No excuses.
Maybe we shouldn’t be too quick to judge without knowing all the facts.
In politics, can you ever really know all the facts?
True, it’s all about interpretation and perspective. Just makes it so complicated.
If the new PM is another old guard, it’ll be the same old story. We need fresh faces.
The irony is they ousted Srettha for ethics, yet Gen Prawit is a candidate with his own controversial history. Hypocrisy much?
Ya, it’s like they’re just shuffling the same deck of problematic cards.
Exactly. Real reform is needed, not just new faces with old habits.
Do you think this will affect Thailand’s international relations?
It might. Political instability usually makes other countries cautious.
Hope it doesn’t impact trade agreements. That would hurt everyone.
This just shows the mess that political alliances can bring. Coalition governments are tricky.
Absolutely. The next coalition will need rock-solid agreements to avoid another fiasco.
But aren’t coalitions necessary for democracy? They represent a broader range of views.
Who cares who the next PM is? The system’s broken!
Can we just take a moment to think about how all these machinations affect the common Thai person?
That’s the problem. Politicians are too busy fighting for power to care about us.
Exactly. Policies that actually help people seem to get lost in the shuffle.