THAILAND’S Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several of her ministers for abuse of power yesterday, a ruling that threatens to unleash a new wave of political unrest.
The cabinet swiftly appointed a deputy premier – Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan – as her replacement, as the ruling party struggled to regain its footing after the judicial blow.
The court, which has played a key role in deposing Shinawatra-linked governments in recent turbulent years, ruled unanimously that Yingluck acted illegally by transferring a top security official in 2011.
“Therefore her prime minister status has ended. Yingluck can no longer stay in her position acting as caretaker prime minister,” presiding judge Charoon Intachan said in a televised ruling.
Nine cabinet ministers who endorsed the decision to transfer Thawil Pliensri were also stripped of their status.
But Niwattumrong, who is also commerce minister, was quickly promoted to the role of caretaker premier, said Phongthep Thepkanjana, another deputy prime minister. Ruling party officials vowed to press ahead with a planned July 20 election to establish a new government. But that poll date has yet to be endorsed by a royal decree.
The court ruling plunges Thailand deeper into a prolonged political crisis. Anti-government protesters are still on Bangkok’s streets and Yingluck’s “Red Shirt” supporters also threaten to rally to defend her, raising fears of clashes.
Jubilant anti-government demonstrators blew whistles outside court to mark her removal – a key demand of their movement, which is seeking to curb the influence of Yingluck’s billionaire brother Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin lives overseas to avoid jail for corruption convictions, but is accused of running the country by proxy through his sister.
“I am happy, though the whole cabinet has not been removed. People who do not respect the law should be thrown out,” protester Linjong Thummathorn said.
The kingdom has been bedevilled by a bitter political schism since 2006 when an army coup deposed former telecoms magnate Thaksin as prime minister.
He is reviled by the Bangkok elite, middle class and royalist southerners who say he has sponsored nepotism and widespread corruption and who perceive him as a threat to the monarchy. But he is loved in the poorer north and northeast and among the urban working class for recognising their burgeoning political and economic aspirations.
They have returned Shinawatra-led or linked governments to power in every election since 2001. — AFP
Top court ejects Thailand leader
The cabinet swiftly appointed a deputy premier – Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan – as her replacement, as the ruling party struggled to regain its footing after the judicial blow.
The court, which has played a key role in deposing Shinawatra-linked governments in recent turbulent years, ruled unanimously that Yingluck acted illegally by transferring a top security official in 2011.
“Therefore her prime minister status has ended. Yingluck can no longer stay in her position acting as caretaker prime minister,” presiding judge Charoon Intachan said in a televised ruling.
Nine cabinet ministers who endorsed the decision to transfer Thawil Pliensri were also stripped of their status.
But Niwattumrong, who is also commerce minister, was quickly promoted to the role of caretaker premier, said Phongthep Thepkanjana, another deputy prime minister. Ruling party officials vowed to press ahead with a planned July 20 election to establish a new government. But that poll date has yet to be endorsed by a royal decree.
The court ruling plunges Thailand deeper into a prolonged political crisis. Anti-government protesters are still on Bangkok’s streets and Yingluck’s “Red Shirt” supporters also threaten to rally to defend her, raising fears of clashes.
Jubilant anti-government demonstrators blew whistles outside court to mark her removal – a key demand of their movement, which is seeking to curb the influence of Yingluck’s billionaire brother Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin lives overseas to avoid jail for corruption convictions, but is accused of running the country by proxy through his sister.
“I am happy, though the whole cabinet has not been removed. People who do not respect the law should be thrown out,” protester Linjong Thummathorn said.
The kingdom has been bedevilled by a bitter political schism since 2006 when an army coup deposed former telecoms magnate Thaksin as prime minister.
He is reviled by the Bangkok elite, middle class and royalist southerners who say he has sponsored nepotism and widespread corruption and who perceive him as a threat to the monarchy. But he is loved in the poorer north and northeast and among the urban working class for recognising their burgeoning political and economic aspirations.
They have returned Shinawatra-led or linked governments to power in every election since 2001. — AFP
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