BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed on Wednesday (Aug 14) by the Constitutional Court for a breach of ethics in appointing to his Cabinet a former lawyer who was briefly imprisoned 16 years ago.
Here’s a look at the process for choosing a new leader and the potential candidates.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Thailand’s Cabinet will take on a caretaker role with Commerce Minister and deputy premier Phumtham Wechayachai becoming acting prime minister.
Parties must decide who they will nominate and vote for as the next premier based on a list of candidates that was submitted prior to the 2023 poll.
It is expected not all candidates would be put forward, with horse-trading likely to take place between parties in return for Cabinet positions.
The house speaker will convene parliament for the lower house to vote for the next prime minister. There are no rules specifying when parliament must convene to hold the vote.
To become prime minister, a candidate needs the backing of more than half of the lower house’s current 493 lawmakers or 247 votes. If they fall short, the house must convene again later and repeat the voting process, with a chance for other candidates to be nominated.
The 11-party coalition government has 314 seats in the lower house. The new premier must appoint a Cabinet, which then must present its policies to parliament before it can start governing.
WHO ARE THE LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR PRIME MINISTER?
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, daughter of the billionaire figurehead of the Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin Shinawatra, could replace Srettha. She is also the party’s leader and would be the third Shinawatra to take the top job if chosen by parliament.
Another possible candidate is Anutin Charnvirakul, Interior Minister and deputy premier, who successfully pushed for the liberalisation of cannabis in Thailand.
He is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest partner in the coalition government.
Prawit Wongsuwan, an influential former army chief who leads the conservative and military-aligned Palang Pracharat Party, is also a possible option. A notorious political deal-maker, he was involved in the last two coups against the Shinawatra governments.
Chaikasem Nitisiri, former justice minister and Pheu Thai party stalwart, and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, a former justice minister who heads the conservative Thai Raksa Chart party, could also take up the position.
