Thai PM Faces Judgment Day Over Minister Nomination on Aug. 14

[webfact]

Srettha Thavisin. File photo courtesy: NNT

 

The Constitutional Court has announced a verdict date of August 14 for an impeachment lawsuit against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The case could determine whether the Pheu Thai-affiliated leader remains in office.

 

The charges stem from the appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office. Forty former senators allege that Srettha violated the constitution and ethical codes by appointing Pichit despite his controversial and criminal past.

 

Should the court find Srettha guilty, he could be impeached, resulting in his immediate removal from office. The former lawmakers argue that Srettha must have been aware of Pichit's shady history.

 

Pichit was previously Thaksin Shinawatra's lawyer in a high-profile Bangkok land case. Notably, he was jailed for six months in 2008 for contempt of court after bribing Supreme Court officials with two million baht hidden in food bags.

 

Srettha claimed he had consulted the Council of State regarding the legal implications of appointing Pichit. Despite this, Pichit stepped down from his ministerial role amid public pressure. However, the plaintiffs argue that Srettha's decision to appoint Pichit in the first place constitutes an irreversible mistake warranting impeachment.

 

Critics assert that Thaksin, the influential and controversial former prime minister, orchestrated the appointment of his former lawyer. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, another former prime minister now living in exile, has also been implicated in exerting influence over Srettha.

 

Despite these allegations, Srettha maintains he operates independently and denies being manipulated by the Shinawatra family.

 

As the court date looms, many Thai citizens are watching closely, aware that the ruling could have significant implications for Srettha’s political future and Pheu Thai’s grip on power. The upcoming judgment will surely add another chapter to Thailand’s tumultuous political landscape.

 

-- 2024-07-25

 

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[DonniePeverley]

He is the worst PM Thailand has ever had. 

 

- Done nothing of note other than licking the edges of the horrendous pollution problem that Thailand has - a problem that leaves many cities like Chiang Mai as a national embarassment as being the most polluted city on the planet for a few months. It will be the same again next year. 

 

- Opening up the borders to mass tourism is an ecological disaster. He is going to ruin the beautiful Thai experience with his horrific plan to let in every man and his dog. Despite tourism numbers up revenue is down - a direct result of him wanting cheap mass tourism, as opposed to cleaning up the industry and attracting quality. An enviromental disaster that will see local Thai's face many of the problems that Europeans and Japanese are facing with mass tourism.

 

- Not putting any safe guards to protect local Thais from his horrific plan to allow people to essentially now live in Thailand with his new visas. 

 

- No foreign policy of note. Nothing to tackle the growing trade deficit with China. Appeasing war monger Putin by letting draft dodging Russians live and hide in Thailand. 

 

- An economy doing poorly. No attempt to diversify the economy like Vietnam and the Phillpines has. It is addicted to mass Cheap tourism. 

 

- Emabarassing claims he can make Thailand a hub of this and that. Still waiting for a single hub. He wanted F1, he's getting F3 which no one watches. 

 

- Tackling inequality in Thai society? Nothing. Education? Nothing. 

 

He should be the minister of tourism. Not a PM. 

 

 

He's been a complete disgrace. 

Edited July 24 by DonniePeverley

[JoeyMac]

I've seen many Thai leaders come and go, including the military. 

 

This guy has to be the worst.

 

He does nothing. Lives in some surreal bubble not connected to the reality on the ground. 

[Olmate]

Think he,s not old enough, and no way is he as corrupt! 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Constitutional Court has announced a verdict date of August 14 for an impeachment lawsuit against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The case could determine whether the Pheu Thai-affiliated leader remains in office.

Just like the annual monsoon, this will blow over.

[bob smith]

Srettha out!

 

we've had enough already.

 

bob.

[nahkit]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, another former prime minister now living in exile, has also been implicated in exerting influence over Srettha

p*ssy-whipped.

 

Wonder how long this will stay up?

[JoeyMac]

He must love it the position, the fame. He clearly doesn't need the money (but when is enough for these people?)

 

His tenure either tells you he has no power, or worst of all has no ideas, another Thai leader who is completely out of his depth. 

 

Otherwise he has done nothing for Thais. I mean what is his solution to the crisis in Chiang Mai with the pollution? Please tell me. You would not see such a crisis like this in a developed nation to allow the citizens to suffer like that. 

 

What about the crippling inequality you see in Thai society? You would think he would want to be out there implementing strict measures to help people.

 

What's he doing about the environmental issues? 

 

How is he improving education standards?

 

He seemed proud to let in draft dodging Russians, then went to Europe to say 'let Thai's in visa free' - despite Europe being massively hit by the Ukraine War. He has no idea about diplomacy. 

 

Totally out of his depth. 

 

He loves holidays and tourism, hence his only solution to anything is MORE TOURISTS MORE TOURISTS PLEASE MORE TOURISTS.