The appointment showed Srettha “has no honesty and breached ethical standards”, the judge added.
A downcast Srettha, who did not attend the court hearing, said he was dismayed by the ruling, which hobbled his government after 11 months of turmoil characterised by infighting and economic woes.
“The show is over. I’ve done everything as honestly as possible the past year … I insist that I have never been the source of division and conflict,” he told reporters outside the Government House.
“I’m sad that I’ve been judged and I’m going to go down in history as a prime minister who has breached serious ethics when I’ve been honest all along. Being prime minister has been my greatest honour,” said Srettha, who helmed the Pheu Thai party founded by billionaire ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
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Thai Prime Minister removed from office by Constitutional court
Thai Prime Minister removed from office by Constitutional court
Close China-Thailand ties
Zhuang Guotu, a Southeast Asia specialist from Xiamen University, said Srettha’s exit could lead to stronger relations between China and Thailand under the next Thai government.
“Currently, Bangkok’s relation with Beijing is excellent even though Srettha tried to maintain a balanced approach between China and the Western nations. After coming to power, Srettha did not want to offend the West, nor did he want to alienate China.
“However, the next leader may have less pressure to try to maintain that balance if he’s more trusted by the royal family or the military,” he said, adding that Beijing has had close relations with Thailand’s royalty for many years.
Thailand’s need for China to develop its economy outweighed political considerations, Zhuang added.
“Thailand’s economic development needs to be developed through cooperation with China, including the opening of the Sino-Thai rail project and other infrastructure development. Thailand also needs China for new industrial upgrades.”
The Southeast Asian country has become a major attraction for China’s new energy industry, especially electrical vehicles, while its tourism sector has seen a surge in Chinese visitors so far this year thanks to a post-pandemic rebound.
China has been Thailand’s biggest trading partner for a decade. Bilateral trade totalled US$126.3 billion in 2023, with China posting a US$25.1 billion surplus.
What next?
Wednesday’s ruling is another victory for Thailand’s conservative power players, including 40 former military-appointed senators who brought the case against the 62-year-old Srettha, a real estate tycoon and political newcomer who was parachuted in as prime minister after last year’s election.
To many Thais, the ruling is a continuation of a 20-year-long political saga, in which short-lived governments, court rulings and military coups have erased democratic gains and curbed economic growth.
Thailand’s lower house of parliament would meet to choose a new prime minister on Friday following Srettha’s dismissal, Prommin Lertsuridej, the former leader’s chief of staff, told Reuters.
Pheu Thai would meet on Thursday to decide its candidate for prime minister, the party’s secretary general Sorawong Thienthong said.
Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn could be one of the candidates put forward by the party, analysts say.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party is also qualified to lead the country. Another potential candidate is Prawit Wongsuwon, the 80-year-old ex-general who appeared to have been sidelined by Srettha’s government but has the support of the Senate.
Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former head of the Thai army who carried out the 2014 coup and governed for a decade thereafter, is also eligible.
The ruling has cast doubt on Srettha’s policies, including a controversial US$13.8 billion digital handout to businesses and citizens to spur economic growth.
Thailand’s courts have played an instrumental role in shaping the country’s political scene over the years.
Last week, the Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward party and banned its key officials from politics for a decade including Pita Limjaroenrat, who was poised to become prime minister before his coalition collapsed. Move Forward was previously shoved into opposition by a coalition of conservatives led by Srettha despite winning the May 2023 polls.
Srettha’s dismissal came a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced his trip to Thailand to meet his counterparts from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar for an unofficial ministerial conference. It is unclear if Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will be attending the event, which is scheduled to be held in Chiang Mai on Friday and Saturday, according to media reports.
Zhuang said the ministerial meeting would not have an impact on developments in Thailand. If the Thai foreign minister post were to be vacant, a postponement of the event would be “a better option”, he added.