THAI Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin turned to a legal expert for advice on how to handle his case after lawmakers accused him of violating ethical standards for the appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.
On May 23rd, forty senators filed a complaint concerning the appointment of Prime Minister’s Office Minister Pichit Chuenban who was jailed for six months in 2008 on contempt of court charge.
The lawmakers argued his appointment fell short of moral and ethical standards for ministers. The office minister in question resigned days before the Constitutional Court accepted the petition.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin faces potential removal if the Constitutional Court finds his appointment as the cabinet minister breached ethics rules.
Amid the political setback, Thavisin turned to legal expert and former deputy minister Wissanu Krea-ngam for advice but refused to divulge the details of their conservation.
The Prime Minister said that the legal expert’s advice gave him a confidence boost on how to defend himself in court.
The budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year and the ongoing government policies will be affected in case there is an abrupt change in leadership.
The opposition Move Forward party said the group will nominate former party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as its candidate for prime minister, in case a “political accident” that could remove Thavisin from power takes place.
The court refused to suspend Srettha from duty pending a verdict and was given 15 days from the 23rd of May to make an appeal and justify his nomination.
