Exactly a week after dissolving the main opposition Move Forward Party, Thailand’s Constitutional Court today dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office over breach of ethics for appointing a former lawyer to his cabinet who had been jailed 16 years ago. 

As many as 40 former Senators had petitioned the court, questioning Srettha’s decision despite the country’s constitution clearly stipulating that ministers must be of evident integrity and their behavior must comply with ethical standards.

The judges voted 5-4 to oust Srettha after ruling that the Prime Minister had violated the constitution by appointing Pichit Chuenban as a minister in his office.

In August 2023, he was elected as the Southeast Asian kingdom’s new PM after winning a simple majority in a parliamentary vote, setting the stage for Pheu Thai Party’s candidate to form the country’s next government.

Local media reported that Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai is likely to be appointed as a caretaker PM till the country’s Parliament is convened to vote for the next Prime Minister.

On August 7, the same court had dissolved the main opposition Move Forward Party, ruling its efforts to amend a law against defaming the kingdom’s royal family violated the constitution.

The court had also imposed a ban on 11 members of the party’s executive board from political activity for 10 years.