Description: Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been removed from office by the country’s Constitutional Court which ruled against her reinstatement on grounds of ethical violations. The Court voted 6 – 3 against Shinawatra’s reinstatement following allegations that she compromised the country’s diplomatic standing in its border dispute with Cambodia through the leaked phone call with Cambodia’s influential politician, Hun Sen. Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai party, which left the ruling coalition with Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party in Jun, has announced that he has already shored up support from other parties, especially the People’s Party, which is considered as the most influential in Thailand’s parliament. Other candidates which could succeed Shinawatra such as former Justice Minister, Chaikasem Nitisiri or former energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga need to gather support from up to 50 lawmakers and garner the support from more than 247 members in Thailand’s 492 – member Parliament.
Impact: Shinawatra’s dismissal, although largely expected, leaves Thailand’s political landscape in a serious state of turmoil as pressure from the unresolved border dispute with Cambodia and the country’s stagnant economy continues to increase. Thailand is also struggling to stabilize its economy as US tariffs and difficult global market conditions have depleted the country’s export capabilities as well as dominant sources of national revenue such as tourism. The political battle for dominance has already been instigated by the conservative Bhumjaithai party which is aiming at forming a coalition with the influential People’s party which could see its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul become the country’s new Prime Minister. In times of political crisis in Thailand, the military takes precedent in decisions to the country’s future as Shinawatra was the fifth Prime Minister being ousted due to an indirect conflict with one of Thailand’s border commanders. The country is set towards a political transition which considering the political volatility could be followed by public unrest, unless leading political entities, such as the People’s Party, steer the country clear of a renewed political crisis