Thailand's Constitutional Court announced on Wednesday that it will deliver its verdict on August 14 in a case seeking the dismissal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing a lawyer with a criminal record to his cabinet. The case originated from a complaint by a group of former senators regarding the appointment of Pichit Chuenban, who has since resigned and was briefly imprisoned in 2008 for contempt of court, a charge related to an alleged attempt to bribe court staff that was never substantiated.
Real estate mogul Srettha denies any wrongdoing and asserts that Pichit, a former lawyer for the influential Shinawatra family, was thoroughly vetted and his appointment was legitimate. The potential removal of Srettha could create uncertainty in Thailand and necessitate parliament to elect a new prime minister, possibly leading to a reshuffle of the governing coalition and a reconfiguration of cabinet and policies.
The Constitutional Court stated in a release that it has reviewed the case and found sufficient evidence to make a decision, classifying it as a legal matter. This verdict follows another significant decision by the same court regarding the fate of the highly popular opposition Move Forward Party, the largest force in parliament. The progressive, anti-establishment Move Forward Party is accused by the election commission of undermining Thailand's governance system due to its campaign to amend a stringent law prohibiting insults to the royal family, under which numerous individuals have been prosecuted, some receiving lengthy jail terms.
These rulings could reignite a decades-long power struggle in Thailand between royalist, conservative forces allied with the military and major political parties with broad appeal, which have often been dissolved by courts or overthrown in coups. This comes as Srettha strives to revitalize an economy that has underperformed compared to its peers, facing delays in implementing his signature $13.8 billion handout scheme designed to stimulate growth and persistent issues of household debt.
