PUBLISHED : 29 Jul 2024 at 04:54
Observers are divided on whether Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should be removed from office over his decision to appoint former convict Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office Minister in the last cabinet reshuffle.
Former senator Wanchai Sornsiri said the Constitutional Court is likely to throw out the case against Mr Srettha, as no court has issued a ruling on the specific crime which would have barred Pichit from assuming the position.
Pichit was accused of attempted bribery when he represented former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a controversial land case back in 2008. While he was ultimately jailed for six months, Mr Wanchai noted that Pichit was jailed for contempt of court, not attempted bribery.
He also said Mr Srettha had asked for the Council of State’s opinion on the matter, which “shows the prime minister was willing to follow the rules”.
Meanwhile, former Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong predicted Mr Srettha is likely to be removed from office and replaced by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who has the backing of conservative groups.
“The political circumstances are changing. Most members of the new Senate have good ties with Bhumjaithai,” he said. “The recent golf date between Mr Anutin and [Thaksin] at a resort in Nakhon Ratchasima is a sign that a compromise has been reached.”
The case against Mr Srettha began when a group of 40 caretaker senators asked the Constitutional Court to remove him from office in May, for allegedly violating the constitution by appointing Pichit as a PM’s Office Minister.
They argued that Pichit was unfit to assume a cabinet post because he had served jail time in 2008 for attempting to bribe Supreme Court officials by handing them a paper bag containing 2 million baht.
Pichit resigned from the minister post just before the court accepted the petition, which was seen as a bid to spare Mr Srettha from a legal wrangle.
The court will rule on the case against Mr Srettha on Aug 14.