Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin spoke candidly to reporters at Government House on Thursday. (Photo: Royal Thai Government)
The air buzzed with speculation as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed circulating rumors about a “backup prime minister” poised to replace him. These whispers have their roots in anxieties that Srettha could be ousted from office due to his decision to appoint former convict, Pichit Chuenban, as a PM’s Office Minister during the recent cabinet reshuffle.
“I am still the prime minister and am working to the best of my ability,” Srettha said confidently on Thursday. He added that he’s fully prepared to accept the Constitutional Court’s ruling on August 14, regardless of the outcome. “I already sent a closing statement to the court on Tuesday. I don’t want to comment any further,” he stated, cutting off the topic decisively.
Srettha also downplayed rumors suggesting that the Palang Pracharath Party might face expulsion from the coalition government. “We should focus on working to solve the country’s problems,” he emphasized, steering the conversation towards governance issues.
Former senator Wanchai Sornsiri contributed another wrinkle to the ongoing political drama, suggesting that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, might be in line to replace Srettha if he is dislodged due to the Pichit case. The likelihood of Bhumjaithai Party leader and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stepping into the prime ministerial shoes seemed slim to Wanchai. Despite being the third-largest party with 70 MPs, “[former premier] Thaksin Shinawatra [allegedly the de facto leader of Pheu Thai] will not allow Mr. Anutin to become the next prime minister,” Wanchai asserted.
Meanwhile, Constitutional Court president Nakharin Mektrairat issued a stern order on Thursday. The court’s premises are to be declared a controlled area on August 7 and August 14. On these dates, the court will rule on a case involving the dissolution of the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) and decide Srettha’s fate as prime minister, respectively. The order specifies no one is to enter the premises without express permission.
The stakes are high for the Move Forward Party, which stands accused of violating Section 92 of the organic law on political parties, a petition penned by the Election Commission that dates back to March. The agency’s request is founded on the court’s January 31 ruling pointing to the MFP’s alleged intention to undermine the constitutional monarchy as evidenced by their efforts to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code.
On August 14, the Constitutional Court will finally rule on Srettha’s eligibility to continue as prime minister. The saga began with a petition from a group of 40 former senators filed in May, aiming to see Srettha removed. They argue that Pichit is unsuitable for a cabinet position due to his criminal record; he served jail time for contempt of court in 2008 after attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials in a notoriously cumbersome land case involving Thaksin Shinawatra.
Appointing a former convict was bound to raise eyebrows. Srettha should have known better than to stir the political pot like this.
People deserve second chances. Pichit served his time—what’s the problem with him taking on a public role?
Fine, but maybe not in such a high-profile position. You can’t deny his past actions cast a shadow over Srettha’s leadership.
Yeah, but look at some politicians worldwide with worse records. It’s about the message the PM wants to send.
Is anyone really surprised? The political scene in Thailand has always been a game of musical chairs. More of the same.
But it’s not just the same, Larry. This ruling could seriously destabilize the government.
True, but can you blame people for being cynical? How many times have we seen similar dramas unfold?
The rumors about a ‘backup prime minister’ are just a distraction. We need to be focusing on the real issues facing Thailand.
Totally agree. The media loves these sensational stories, but what’s being done to fix the economy or public health?
It’s all smoke and mirrors to divert attention. The real problem is corruption and lack of transparency.
Exactly. Until those core issues are addressed, we’ll keep seeing these political distractions.
This court ruling could be the tipping point. If Srettha is ousted, who steps in next? It’s chaos waiting to happen.
Wanchai’s comment about Thaksin not allowing Anutin to become PM shows who’s really in charge. The strings are being pulled from behind the scenes.
And that’s the sad part. Democratically elected leaders being puppets in a play.
Exactly, and it undermines the whole idea of a democratic process.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if for once, a prime minister could just serve their term without constant scandal and court cases?
Declaring the Constitutional Court a controlled area? That’s pretty intense. They’re obviously expecting trouble.
If the MFP is dissolved, it’s going to send shockwaves through the political landscape. They’re one of the few truly progressive parties.
Undermining the monarchy is a serious allegation. They knew there would be consequences.
But questioning Section 112 isn’t the same as undermining the monarchy. It’s about reform, not rebellion.
The timing of the petition and court ruling is too convenient. It reeks of political maneuvering to me.
How does a country move forward with this level of instability? It seems like Thailand is stuck in an endless loop of political drama.
Srettha’s calm demeanor in the face of all this chaos is commendable, but confidence won’t save him from the court’s decision.
Confidence can rally support, though. If the people stand by him, it might mitigate some damage.
True, but people’s support can be fickle when it comes to politics. One misstep and it’s all downhill.
Shouldn’t we wait for the court’s decision before jumping to conclusions? This rush to judgment isn’t helpful.
Easy to say, Arjun, but public sentiment can influence judicial outcomes too. Staying silent isn’t always the best option.
I get that, but stirring the pot prematurely could do more harm than good.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Paetongtarn takes over. Family dynasties always find a way to regain power in Thai politics.
This just goes to show: corruption and shady dealings will always catch up with you, no matter how powerful you think you are.
Focusing on governance issues is critical right now, not just tabloid scandals. Thailand has enough problems to deal with.
True, but these ‘scandals’ affect governance. The stability of the government itself is at stake.
It’s crazy how much one appointment can destabilize an entire government. Srettha really stepped in it this time.
Agreed. One wrong move and the whole house of cards starts to fall.