Breaking News: “Members of Parliament (MPs) have voted for Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the sole prime ministerial candidate from the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
A special parliamentary session was held earlier today, to vote on the appointment of a new Prime Minister, by Article 159 of the Constitution.
During the session, chaired by House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, only the Pheu Thai Party’s candidate for prime minister, Paetongtarn, was nominated. Previously, there were a total of 7 candidates from five political parties. Paetongtarn has to gain at least 248 votes out of 493 to be elected as Prime Minister.
Before the vote, the opposition, led by the newly formed People’s Party, discussed the importance of appointing a Prime Minister to lead the nation out of the economic crisis. They also deliberated on the powers of the Constitutional Court and independent organizations, emphasizing the need for public involvement in deciding the fate of political parties.At the end of today’s special session, a total of 319 MPs voted his favor of Paetongtarn to be named the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand, with 145 MPs objecting and 27 MPs abstaining. At the end of today’s special session, a total of 319 MPs voted his favor of Paetongtarn to be named the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand, with 145 MPs objecting and 27 MPs abstaining.” – Thai Public Relations Department.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing a former lawyer with a criminal record to his cabinet, sparking concerns of political instability and a potential reset of the governing alliance. Srettha is now the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be ousted by the court for constitutional violations.
This decision arose from Thavisin’s appointment of Pichit Chuenbaan to the position of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, despite full knowledge of Pichit’s disqualification. Pichit had been previously charged with attempting to bribe a court official, a transgression that directly compromised his integrity—a core qualification for holding such a position.
A new Prime Minister and cabinet would need to be appointed. Srettha would be unable to fulfill the role of caretaker Prime Minister, in accordance with Section 168 of the 2017 Constitution. However, the current cabinet could continue in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formally established.
