Thailand’s Constitutional Court has scheduled a verdict announcement for August 14 concerning the case seeking the removal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin due to his appointment of a lawyer with a controversial past to his cabinet.
The legal challenge was initiated by a group of former senators questioning the appointment of Pichit Chuenban, who had a brief incarceration in 2008 for alleged contempt of court related to a bribery accusation against court personnel, although the allegation was never proven. Srettha, a prominent real estate magnate, has refuted any misconduct and defended the vetting process of Pichit, emphasizing the transparency of the appointment.
A potential ousting of Srettha could trigger political upheaval in Thailand, necessitating the selection of a new prime minister by parliament and potentially fracturing the ruling coalition as his Pheu Thai Party squares off against its partners, possibly leading to a reshuffling of government positions and policies.
The forthcoming court ruling follows another crucial decision by the same court concerning the fate of the widely supported opposition Move Forward Party, which is under scrutiny by the election commission for advocating amendments to a strict law prohibiting insults against the royal family. This contentious issue has led to numerous prosecutions and lengthy imprisonments for offenders.
These judicial outcomes have the capacity to reignite longstanding power struggles in Thailand between traditional royalist factions backed by the military and influential political entities with widespread public backing, many of which have been disbanded by court orders or ousted through military coups over the past two decades.
This legal showdown comes at a time when Srettha is grappling with efforts to rejuvenate a sluggish economy that lags behind regional counterparts, facing challenges in implementing a significant $13.8 billion stimulus package designed to alleviate economic stagnation and combat pervasive household debt issues.
