Observers are in two minds about whether Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should be ousted from office following his controversial decision to appoint former convict Pichit Chuenban as a Minister in the PM’s Office during the latest cabinet reshuffle. Former senator Wanchai Sornsiri remarked that the Constitutional Court is likely to dismiss the case against Mr. Srettha, as no court had previously ruled on the specific crime that would have disqualified Pichit from taking up the position.
To rewind a bit, Pichit was embroiled in a bribery scandal back in 2008 while representing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a notorious land case. Although he did serve six months in jail—a fact many are quick to highlight—Mr. Wanchai pointed out that Pichit’s imprisonment was for contempt of court, not for attempted bribery.
Mr. Srettha, in an effort to adhere to protocol, sought the Council of State’s opinion on the matter, according to Mr. Wanchai. “This demonstrates the Prime Minister’s commitment to following the rules,” he said.
On the flip side, former Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong has a more cynical prediction. He forecasts that Mr. Srettha is likely to be removed and replaced by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who garners substantial support from conservative groups. “Political dynamics are shifting,” he said. “Most of the new Senate members have strong connections with Bhumjaithai.” He even referenced a recent golf game between Mr. Anutin and Thaksin at a resort in Nakhon Ratchasima as evidence that a behind-the-scenes deal might have been struck.
The saga began in May when 40 caretaker senators petitioned the Constitutional Court to remove Mr. Srettha from office. Their accusation centered around his appointment of Pichit, claiming it was a constitutional violation, given Pichit’s 2008 jail time for attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials with a paper bag containing 2 million baht.
Interestingly, Pichit resigned from his ministerial post just before the court accepted the petition—an apparent effort to shield Mr. Srettha from legal complications and public outcry.
On August 14, all eyes will be glued to the Constitutional Court as it delivers its ruling on this high-stakes case. Will it be a political earthquake or a mere tremor? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the outcome will reverberate through Thailand’s political corridors for a long time to come.
This is madness! How can they allow someone who went to jail to become a minister? Pichit should never have been appointed in the first place.
People deserve a second chance. He served his time, and it wasn’t even for bribery, it was contempt of court!
But what about the integrity of the government? Appointing someone with any criminal record tarnishes its reputation.
Exactly, Lucy! The government should set a higher standard for itself.
If we keep rejecting people because of past mistakes, we’ll lose out on some potentially great leaders.
Mr. Srettha is just doing what every politician does. Political appointments are always controversial. This is no different.
So you’re saying it’s okay because everyone does it? That’s a terrible argument.
Not okay, but understandable. Politics is a dirty game.
If we accept corruption as normal, nothing will ever change. We need to hold our leaders to higher standards.
I think it’ll be a bad move to oust Mr. Srettha. He’s done a lot of good things and one controversial appointment shouldn’t overshadow that.
The Constitutional Court needs to send a strong message that unethical behavior won’t be tolerated, or this will set a dangerous precedent.
Agreed! The credibility of the entire judicial system is at stake here. The rule of law must be upheld.
If the court takes a hardline approach on every issue, it may stifle the government’s ability to function effectively.
Why didn’t the opposition raise this issue sooner? Feels like they are just trying to destabilize the government.
Good point. The timing is suspicious, but wrong is wrong no matter when it comes up.
True, but consistency in accountability is important too. They shouldn’t pick and choose when to be ‘righteous’.
This case demonstrates the deep-rooted issues in Thai politics. The revolving door of corruption and favoritism needs to be dismantled.
Completely agree. This is systemic and won’t change with just removing one person.
True, but starting with removing people who break the rules can be the first step towards bigger reforms.
Why is nobody talking about the possible deal between Anutin and Thaksin? It’s all so shady!
It’s a crucial point that can’t be overemphasized. Political deals behind the scenes undermine the democratic process.
If that’s true, it’s a new low even for Thai politics.
Is anyone surprised? Politicians and corruption go hand-in-hand. The only thing new here is this particular scandal.
We shouldn’t normalize this though. Just because it’s common doesn’t make it acceptable.
True, but it’s hard to see things changing anytime soon.
Even if Mr. Srettha stays in office, his credibility is damaged. Hard to lead effectively with such a cloud hanging over him.
I doubt the court will actually remove him. Too many political connections at play here.
They might not, but the public outcry could force some changes anyway.
Corruption has plagued Thai politics for decades. This is just another episode in a long series. When will it end?
Probably never. Just have to accept this is the way things are and work with it.
Honestly, removing him could cause more instability. Sometimes it’s better to keep the devil you know.
What I can’t get over is the blatant behind-the-scenes maneuvering. Is there no shame?
Shame seems to be a rare commodity in politics nowadays. It’s all about power and who can wield it.
If the court really wants to make a statement, they should disqualify him and set an example.