Unending turmoil in Thailand's political landscape
In the political landscape of Thailand, the Constitutional Court has once again taken center stage, set to decide the future of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister on Monday.
The Thai Raksa Chart Party, a party linked to Thaksin Shinawatra, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2019 for "acting in a manner hostile to the constitutional monarchy" after it nominated a princess for prime minister. This is not an isolated incident, as the court has a history of dissolving political parties, including three parties either founded by or linked to Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Thai Rak Thai Party, founded by Thaksin, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2007 for electoral fraud. The People's Power Party, successor to the Thai Rak Thai Party, met a similar fate in 2008. Since 2008, four prime ministers have been ousted by the Constitutional Court, all of them linked to Thaksin Shinawatra and his political parties.
The Constitutional Court's legitimacy is based on its identity as a moral vanguard protecting Thailand's institutions against perceived democratic excesses. However, critics argue that the court tends to deliver rulings that align with the interests of the unelected establishment consisting of the military, judiciary, and royal family.
The court has also been instrumental in removing prime ministers. In 2014, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister, was removed from her position on charges of abuse of power. Srettha Thavisin was ousted in 2014 for breaching the constitution, and Samak Sundaravej, a Thaksin ally, was removed in 2008 for violating the constitution by hosting a television cooking show and receiving payment while serving.
The Constitutional Court's decisions are officially and publicly announced, often live-streamed on its website. Last year, the Move Forward Party, the successor of the Future Forward Party, was disbanded by the Constitutional Court for its campaign to amend the country's harsh royal defamation law. In 2020, the Future Forward Party was dissolved on charges of taking an illegal loan from its leader, resulting in a 10-year ban from politics for its executives.
Thailand, a constitutional monarchy with regular, competitive elections and high voter turnout, has experienced more than a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. The Shinawatra family, including Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been at the center of significant political moments in Thailand for the past 20 years.
As the Constitutional Court prepares to make its decision, the eyes of the nation are upon it. The court's ruling will undoubtedly have implications for Thailand's political future.
