Thai Prime Ministers Ousted by Constitutional Court Before Srettha Thavisin

• Srettha Thavisin’s Dismissal: The Constitutional Court removed Thavisin from office due to an ethical violation involving the appointment of a cabinet member with a criminal record, specifically Pichit Chuenban, who had previously served a prison sentence for contempt of court.
• Historical Context: Thavisin’s ousting continues a trend in Thai politics, where the Constitutional Court has intervened to dismiss multiple prime ministers, particularly those associated with populist parties.
• Political Instability: The removal of Thavisin raises concerns about ongoing political instability in Thailand, especially following the recent dissolution of the Move Forward Party, which complicates the political landscape further.
• Potential Successors: With Thavisin’s departure, the Pheu Thai Party must quickly nominate a new candidate for prime minister, with potential successors including Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chaikasem Nitisiri, both of whom have ties to the influential Shinawatra family.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has once again demonstrated its power by ousting Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, marking him as the fourth prime minister to be removed by the court in the last 16 years. 

Srettha Thavisin’s Dismissal

On August 14, 2024, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, citing a serious violation of ethical standards.

The court’s decision stemmed from Thavisin’s appointment of Pichit Chuenban as Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, despite Chuenban’s criminal history, which included a six-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

Srettha, who took office in 2023, expressed his respect for the court’s decision.

Historical Context

Thavisin’s ousting is part of a broader pattern in Thai politics, where the Constitutional Court has repeatedly intervened to remove prime ministers, particularly those aligned with populist movements.

Over the past 16 years, the court has dismissed four prime ministers, often citing ethical violations or conflicts of interest.

Notably, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted in 2014, and the court’s actions have consistently targeted leaders from parties that challenge the conservative establishment.

1. Yingluck Shinawatra (2014): Yingluck was ousted by the Constitutional Court for abuse of power related to a rice subsidy scheme that was deemed unconstitutional. The court ruled that she had violated the law by failing to prevent corruption in the program, which led to significant financial losses for the government.
2. Samak Sundaravej (2008): Samak was removed from office after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had violated the constitution by hosting a cooking show while serving as prime minister. The court found that his participation in the show constituted a conflict of interest, leading to his dismissal.
3. Thaksin Shinawatra (2006): Thaksin was ousted in a military coup while he was attending a UN meeting in New York. The military cited corruption, abuse of power, and a failure to address the country’s deepening political divisions as reasons for the coup. Thaksin’s government faced widespread protests and allegations of authoritarianism, which ultimately led to his removal.

Political Instability

Thavisin’s removal comes at a time of heightened political instability in Thailand. The recent dissolution of the Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the 2023 election, further complicates the situation.

This party’s disbandment, alongside Thavisin’s ousting, signals a potential backlash against progressive movements in the country.

With the political landscape in flux, the Pheu Thai Party must act quickly to nominate a new prime minister.

Potential candidates include Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, both of whom have significant political ties and could influence the direction of the party moving forward.