Thailand: Paetongtarn Shinawatra Nominated to Replace Ousted PM

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Facts

  • In a 5-4 ruling, Thailand's Constitutional Court voted Wednesday to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from his office over ethics violations concerning his appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chueban as cabinet minister.[1]
  • Pichit was jailed in 2008 for trying to bribe Supreme Court officials, and was appointed to Srettha's cabinet in April this year. A petition by 40 senators consequently accused the appointment of breaching the office's ethical standards.[2]
  • Pichit had resigned a month after his appointment, shortly following the petition of 40 senators. In response to the court decision, Srettha claimed that he was not an unethical politician, and said he 'did [his] best' and 'had no conflicts with anyone.'[3]
  • Srettha, who entered office last year, is the fourth prime minister to be removed by Thailand's Constitutional Court in 16 years. Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai will be interim PM until a 247 majority of the House of Representatives votes for a replacement on Friday.[4][1]
  • Srettha's Pheu Thai Party has nominated Paetongtarn Shinawatra ahead of Friday's vote. The 37-year-old daughter of controversial former PM Thaksin Shinawatra would be the second female PM and third PM from her family if elected.[5][6]
  • This comes after the same court voted to dissolve the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) last week and put a hold to the country's new $14.3B digital wallet stimulus plan until a new government is formed.[7]

Sources: [1]Bangkokpost, [2]Nationthailand, [3]Khaosodenglish, [4]Reuters (a), [5]Dw.Com, [6]Reuters (b) and [7]CNA.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Asia Times. The court's decision to remove Srettha is a surprise to many who expected the former PM to be declared innocent after a minor wrongdoing. It is likely that, after an underwhelming start to his premiership and a stuttering economy, the political novice did not achieve enough to prove to the country's royal establishment that he was fit to continue.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Khaosodenglish. Recent decisions by Thailand's Constitutional Court have once again exposed a great power imbalance rooted deep within the state. With Thailand now possessing neither a government nor an opposition, it is clearer than ever that the Constitutional Court's influence over the country must be limited if the interests of the people are to be truly represented.

Predictions