Thailand's Constitutional Court on August 14 voted 5-4 to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, citing breaches of ethical guidelines in the appointment of a minister. The court found that Srettha violated constitutional standards by appointing Pichit Chuenban, who had previously served a prison sentence for attempting to bribe court officials, as a minister attached to the Prime Minister’s office.

The petition was filed by senators reportedly aligned with Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party and former deputy prime minister, according to a report by Thai Enquirer. Srettha, who had been in office for less than a year, led a Pheu Thai government formed through a coalition with conservative parties following the 2023 general election. The property tycoon and political newcomer aimed to boost international investment and tourism, but key initiatives, such as a THB10,000 giveaway, struggled to gain traction.

The future of his “Ignite Thailand” vision remains uncertain. With a tenure of just 358 days, Srettha’s term is one of the shortest in recent Thai history. Since 2001, only Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, both aligned with Thaksin Shinawatra and also removed by the Constitutional Court, have had shorter terms. After Thaksin’s ouster in a 2006 military coup, no Thaksinite prime minister has completed a full term.

Srettha becomes the fourth Thai prime minister in 16 years to be ousted by the Constitutional Court, which had previously dissolved the Move Forward Party a week earlier, ruling that its efforts to reform a law against insulting the king threatened the constitutional monarchy. Srettha’s Pheu Thai Party, along with its predecessors, has been central to Thailand's political turmoil, with two of its governments previously overthrown by coups. The court’s decision could disrupt the fragile truce between Thaksin Shinawatra loyalists and conservative factions.

A new prime minister lacking popular support might provoke renewed protests similar to the student demonstrations of 2020–21 or the larger 2013–14 demonstrations. Past analysis indicates that renewed unrest could adversely impact tourism, business, and consumer confidence. Even if violence is avoided, Thailand’s ongoing political instability suggests that the country has yet to find a resolution to its deep political divide. This persistent uncertainty may exacerbate economic populism, potentially undermining investor confidence and affecting the country’s long-term economic prospects.