Forty interim senators in Thailand have made a notable political maneuver by formally requesting the Constitutional Court of the country to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office. The controversy revolves around the selection of Pichit Chuenban, a former lawyer with a controversial background, as a minister in the Prime Minister’s office during a recent government change.
Pichit has a criminal record that includes serving a six-month prison term in 2008 for contempt of court. This was due to an alleged incident where he tried to bribe court officials with 2 million baht ($55,218) hidden inside a paper shopping bag. In addition to damaging his reputation, the Lawyers Council of Thailand suspended his law license for a period of five years as a consequence of this incident.
The senators contend that Pichit does not possess the requisite integrity and ethical standards, as stipulated by the constitution, to assume a ministerial position. There is uncertainty regarding whether PM Srettha’s choice to nominate him violates legal and ethical standards. “According to Senator Derekrid Janekrongtham’s interview with Reuters, Pichit lacks the necessary qualifications to serve as a minister, yet the prime minister still selected him for the position.”
This selection has generated controversy, primarily because of Pichit’s strong connections with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who continues to wield substantial influence in Thai politics after his return last year following a 15-year exile. Detractors of the government contend that Pichit’s appointment is a clear consequence of his affiliation with Thaksin.
In response to the accusations, the government’s spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, justified the appointment by asserting that Pichit’s qualifications were extensively examined by the government’s legal experts, who determined that the appointment was in accordance with the law. “Our legal team asserts that the appointment is in accordance with the law and there are no issues regarding his qualifications,” Chai said Reuters.
The senators implicated in this petition are members of an appointed Upper House of parliament, which was established by the military after Thailand’s 2014 coup. Last year, this group collaborated with political parties supported by the military in order to manipulate political results. They successfully prevented the anti-establishment Move Forward party from taking power.
The outcome of this case by the Constitutional Court could have substantial ramifications for PM Srettha Thavisin’s administration and the overall Thai political scene, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing challenges with corruption and political manipulation.
