Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin removed from office by court over controversial cabinet appointment

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Thailand’s constitutional court on Wednesday removed prime minister Srettha Thavisin for briefly inducting a convicted lawyer in his cabinet.

Mr Srettha appointed Pichit Chuenban in April this year, only to see him quit in May after the decision sparked a furore.

Mr Pichit was jailed for six months on contempt of court charges in 2008 for allegedly seeking to bribe a judge in a case involving Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister and founder of Mr Srettha’s Pheu Thai Party.

Mr Thaksin was convicted last year of corruption and defaming the monarchy and sentenced to eight years in prison but was released on parole in February.

Although Mr Pichit had served his setence when he was made minister, the court ruled, his behaviour was dishonest.

And by appointing him to a cabinet job, the court ruled by a majority of five judges to four, Mr Srettha “grossly breached ethical standards”. “The court has found 5-4 that the accused is terminated as prime minister due to his lack of honesty,” it said.

Mr Srettha, the fourth Thai prime minister to be ousted by a court in 16 years, insisted that his appointment of Mr Pichit was above board.

He performed his duty with honesty and did his best, the outgoing prime minister said.

Mr Srettha will be succeeded by deputy premier Phumtham Wechayachai, who will serve as the caretaker until a new leader is ratified by the parliament. There is no time restriction for the legislature to appoint a new prime minister.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party and its past incarnations have seen two of their governments removed through military coups. Its founders, the billionaire Shinawatra family, have been engaged in a protracted tussle for power with the country’s conservative establishment and royalist military.

Among the likely candidates to take over as the next prime minister is Mr Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, who now leads the Pheu Thai Party.

She would be the third Shinawatra to take the job if ratified by the parliament. Former justice minister and Pheu Thai Party stalwart Chaikasem Nitisiri is also among the names being talked about.