Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office over a Cabinet member appointment that it found to be an ethical violation.
Thavisin had used his first television address as PM to encourage plans to legalize casinos to curb illegal gambling and increase government revenue.
His removal comes due to his appointment of a Cabinet member who had been jailed in connection with an alleged bribery attempt.
The former PM noted that he would respect the ruling, claiming he had always aimed to act ethically while in office.
He had been in office for less than a year.
According to reports, he noted that “I’m sorry that I’d be considered as a prime minister who’s unethical, but I’d like to insist that I believe that is not who I am”.
Current deputy prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai is expected to become acting prime minister.
Wechayachai is part of Thavisin’s Pheu Thai governing political party which on Wednesday assured that it could convince its second-largest coalition partner, Bhumjaithai, to end its opposition to legalizing casinos. Pheu Thai sponsored the bill to legalize entertainment complexes containing casinos. On Tuesday, Bhumjaithai stated that it opposed the bill.
Just hours before being removed as Prime Minister, Thavisin expressed optimism that his party would be over to convince Bhumjaitahi, but noted that all parties have to be convinced and agree to legalize casinos before the bill is presented to the House.
Bhumjaithai has four main points of opposition to the casino bill: claiming it won’t solve illegal gambling, that financial benefits for both the government and private sector don’t justify the investment, that casinos’ stimulating effect on tourism is untenable, and that the bill doesn’t detail how entertainment complexes will provide job security for Thai nationals. The Entertainment Complex Business Operation Bill is currently at the public hearing process, set to run until August 18th.
