Description: After Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from her office on Tuesday by the Constitutional Court, the Thai political opposition has decided to postpone their no confidence vote pending the results of the Court’s investigation. The main opposition party, Bhumjaital Party previously left the coalition, however, the newest developments have caused an oppositional consolidation as all five parties from the opposition have vowed not to plunge the country into a political deadlock. Shinawatra’s ruling Pheu Thai party has reshuffled its cabinet and sworn in fourteen new ministers, with Shinawatra being appointed as the Minister of Culture, still remaining in the upper government echelons. Thailand’s Cabinet has appointed Phumtham Wechayachai as the government’s caretaker until the investigation is concluded and the new government is established.
Impact: The opposition’s decision not to outright oust Prime Minister Shinawatra signals political maturing within the country’s ruling constitutional monarchy. The country has been ravaged by coups mostly related to the Shinawatra political dynasty which has repeatedly clashed with the Thai military. The political consolidation between the oppositional parties would effectively keep the Thai military at bay from the country’s government and ensure continuity of governance by the civilian political establishment. Shinawatra is unlikely to be reinstated as Prime Minister, despite the Pheu Thai party reshuffling their camp and ministerial positions as the public confidence has been lost, following the turmoil around Thailand’s border dispute with Cambodia and the leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President, Hun Sen. The outcome of the Constitutional Court’s investigation would determine the next steps the interim government would undertake as the chance of snap elections imposes itself as the most rational way of resolving the country’s political crisis.