Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed by the Constitutional Court.

On the afternoon of August 14, the Thai Constitutional Court issued a ruling to dismiss Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for violating the Constitution in appointing cabinet personnel.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed. (Source: Bangkok Post)

The Bangkok Post reported that the Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin guilty of serious breach of ethics when he appointed former prisoner Pichit Chuenban as Minister of the Prime Minister's Office in a cabinet reshuffle in late April.

The verdict was given by a 5-4 margin. Mr. Srettha will have to leave office after less than a year in power as Thai Prime Minister.

Earlier, on the same morning, 9 judges of the Thai Constitutional Court began deliberations to make the final verdict.

In May, the Constitutional Court accepted a petition filed by a group of 40 acting senators asking the court to consider whether Mr. Srettha and Mr. Pichit Chuenban should be removed from office under Article 170 (4) and (5) of the Constitution regarding the ethics of cabinet ministers.

With Mr Srettha removed from office, the 500-member Thai Parliament will have to meet to elect a new prime minister. The entire Cabinet will also have to resign but will remain in a caretaker role, while the Deputy Prime Minister will serve as acting prime minister until the House of Representatives elects a new head of government.

Speaking to reporters at Government House after the court's decision, Mr. Srettha affirmed that he respected the court's decision, even though it was not what he hoped for, and made it clear: "I no longer have any authority. The authority is now in the hands of the interim Prime Minister."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-thai-lan-srettha-thavisin-bi-toa-an-hien-phap-tuyen-bo-bai-nhiem-282554.html