Thai court removes PM Suraytha Thavisin from office over 'serious moral violation'

Thailand's Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of the populist Pheu Thai party from office, international news agencies reported on Wednesday. Thavisin, a former property tycoon who took power less than a year ago, is the fourth Thai prime minister in 16 years to be removed by the same court. The dismissal is said to have been the result of a controversial appointment within Thavisin's government.

According to the court, Thavisin, who was temporarily replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Phumttam Wechayachai, would have committed a “serious violation” of ethics rules by appointing Pichet Chunpan as a minister. In 2008, Chunpan, as a lawyer, was suspected of bribing court officials. Although this was never proven, he was briefly held in contempt of court in that case.

Thavisin’s resignation comes just a week after the same court ordered the dissolution of the anti-establishment populist party Move Forward. The Pitta Limjaroenrat party won a landslide victory in the 2023 elections on a progressive platform. The court dissolved the party over a controversial campaign in Thailand by the party to change the law surrounding the so-called lese majeste law. The law shields the powerful monarchy from any form of criticism. Move Forward, whose 143 lawmakers were able to keep their seats, has now regrouped under a new name.

Thavisin’s resignation means that the Thai parliament will have to reconvene in a fragile coalition to elect a new prime minister. After the 2023 elections, Pheu Thai struck a deal with the conservative military junta to sideline Move Forward from forming a coalition, which did the party no good. In the Senate elections last June, Thavisin’s conservative coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, emerged as the big winner, further limiting Pheu Thai’s room for manoeuvre.

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