11-6-2024 (BANGKOK) In the latest chapter of Thailand’s simmering political saga, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has formally submitted his defence to the Constitutional Court over the controversial appointment of politician Pichit Chuenban as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. The move comes as the nation braces for a series of high-stakes legal battles that could reshape the political landscape.
Speaking to reporters, PM Srettha acknowledged handing in his arguments to the court last Friday, though he remained tight-lipped about the specifics. “It’s more of a clarification. I have the duty to clarify, and I think I’ve covered it all,” he stated, declining to divulge further details to the media.
The prime minister’s defence arrives after the Constitutional Court last month agreed to hear a petition seeking his ouster over Pichit’s ministerial appointment during a recent cabinet reshuffle. The petition, lodged by a group of caretaker senators, questioned whether PM Srettha and Pichit should be removed from office under sections of the constitution pertaining to the ethics of cabinet ministers.
Pichit, a divisive figure in Thai politics, was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 alongside two colleagues for attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials with a substantial sum of money. His critics have vehemently argued that such a conviction renders him unfit to serve as a cabinet minister.
In a move widely perceived as an attempt to insulate the prime minister from potential legal entanglements, Pichit resigned from his post just before the court accepted the petition. The court subsequently agreed to hear the case against PM Srettha while rejecting the case against Pichit due to his resignation.
As the nation holds its breath, the prime minister remained tight-lipped about other pivotal political developments on the horizon. One such event is the Constitutional Court’s impending hearing on the dissolution case against the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), scheduled for tomorrow. The court granted the party three 15-day extensions before the final hearing.
Additionally, the prosecution’s decision to indict former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on a lese majeste charge has added another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama. Thaksin is expected to report to prosecutors on June 18th, setting the stage for yet another high-stakes legal battle.
