22-5-2024 (BANGKOK) In a bid to shield Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from potential repercussions, a Thai minister at the centre of a legal challenge seeking the premier’s dismissal tendered his resignation on Tuesday.
Pichit Chuenban, 65, stepped down from his post as Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, just weeks after his controversial appointment sparked a group of 40 senators to file a complaint with the Constitutional Court.
The senators alleged that Pichit’s criminal record rendered him ineligible for the ministerial role, a violation that could potentially lead to Srettha’s suspension from office.
“Even though I have been vetted and honestly believe that I am qualified by law, this matter is linked to the prime minister,” Pichit stated in his resignation letter, shared with the media by Srettha’s office.
He expressed hope that his departure would “allow the country to move ahead and not impact the administrative work of the prime minister that needs continuity.”
It remains uncertain whether Pichit’s resignation will influence the court’s decision on whether to accept the case, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Pichit’s chequered past includes a six-month prison sentence in 2008 for contempt of court, stemming from an alleged attempt to bribe court officials with two million baht (approximately £47,000) concealed in a paper grocery bag. The Lawyers Council of Thailand subsequently suspended his law licence for five years.
While the government has maintained that it carefully vetted Pichit’s qualifications and is confident in defending his appointment, critics have accused him of lacking the integrity and ethical standards required for a ministerial position.
Pichit becomes the third minister to depart Srettha’s cabinet, following the resignations of the foreign minister and deputy finance minister after a cabinet reshuffle last month.
The senators, whose terms have expired, currently serve as caretaker lawmakers pending the selection of a new Senate. They have levelled accusations against Pichit, claiming he falls short of the integrity and ethical benchmarks necessary to hold a ministerial post.
Government critics have alleged that Pichit’s appointment was influenced by his close relationship with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a political ally of Srettha who returned to Thailand last year after 15 years in self-imposed exile. Thaksin, despite officially being retired, is believed to wield considerable political clout.
The government, however, has maintained that Pichit’s appointment was solely based on his capabilities.
