Breaking: Court removes Thailand’s Prime Minister from office
A Constitutional Court ruling earlier today has removed Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin from office over violation of the country’s constitution.
The verdict comes a week after the same court dissolved the country’s popular progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in last year’s election, and banned its leaders from politics for 10 years.
CNN reported that the Constitutional Court in Bangkok ruled Wednesday that Srettha, a real estate tycoon and relative political newcomer, had breached ethics rules by appointing a lawyer who had served prison time to the Cabinet.
The case against Srettha was filed in May by a group of 40 military-appointed former senators, who wanted him removed from office due to the Cabinet appointment of Pichit Chuenban, a close aide to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pichit was jailed for six months in 2008 for contempt of court after trying to bribe Supreme Court officials in a land case involving Thaksin.
Five of the court’s nine judges voted to dismiss Srettha and his Cabinet, ruling that the prime minister was “well aware that he appointed a person who seriously lacked moral integrity.”
A new government will be formed immediately, with the ruling Pheu Thai-led coalition nominating a new candidate for prime minister, which will be voted on by the 500-seat parliament.
Speaking to newsmen after the ruling, Srettha said he “accepts the verdict” insisting that his decision was in the best interest of the country. He added that he was unsure whether the next government would continue with his policies.
