A Thai court has removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for appointing a former lawyer with a criminal record to his cabinet.
The Constitutional Court found that Srettha had breached ethical guidelines and displayed “defiant behavior.”
Srettha, 62, who had been in power for less than a year, is the third prime minister to be ousted by the court in 16 years.
An interim leader will now take over until Thailand’s parliament elects a new prime minister.
“I’m confident in my honesty … I feel sorry, but I’m not saying I disagree with the ruling,” Srettha said in a press conference following the decision.
The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
The dismissal underscores the powerful role of Thailand’s Constitutional Court, which has a history of removing leaders and parties.
Political ethics in Thailand have often been questionable, with previous ministers facing serious convictions while still holding office.
The court’s decision comes after a petition from 40 senators challenged Srettha’s appointment of Pichit Chuenban, who had a previous jail sentence for attempted bribery.
Despite Chuenban’s resignation after just 19 days, the court ruled that Srettha’s action was unethical.
The search for a new prime minister will involve significant political maneuvering as Thailand attempts to address its economic challenges.
Srettha’s rise to power last August marked the end of nine years of military-led government, following a political compromise that excluded the reformist Move Forward party, which had won the most votes in the last election.
Recently, the Constitutional Court also dissolved the Move Forward party for unconstitutional campaign promises and banned 11 of its leaders from politics for a decade.
