Thailand's Constitutional Court is scheduled to make a final ruling at 3 PM today (August 29) on whether Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra should be removed from office, following a petition signed by 36 senators. This decision will not only affect Paetongtarn's personal political fate but will also directly impact the current government structure and future direction of Thailand.
Previously, on July 1, the Constitutional Court had decided by a vote of 7:2 to suspend Paetongtarn's duties as Prime Minister until a final judgment is made. This petition originated from a video call between Paetongtarn and the President of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, in which senators accused her of "serious moral violations and lack of integrity," violating Article 170, Paragraph 3, and related clauses of the Constitution.
This morning at 9:30, the judges of the Constitutional Court held a closed-door meeting for final statements, deliberations, and voting. Paetongtarn did not appear in court personally but had her legal team and the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister, Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, waiting for the results inside the government building.
The Constitutional Court, located in the Ratchaburi Direkrit Building in Ratchaburi Province, is heavily guarded. Barricades have been set up, media areas designated, and extensive police forces, bomb squads, and police dogs are patrolling the area, with several police vehicles on standby. The court proceedings will be live-streamed on the official YouTube channel and displayed on television screens in real-time.
The possible rulings by the Constitutional Court include:
Dismissing the petition, allowing Paetongtarn to continue as Prime Minister;
Terminating her duties as Prime Minister, requiring the parliament to select a new Prime Minister from the list of candidates from the 2023 elections;
Terminating her duties which could lead to the dissolution of parliament, with Thailand potentially holding new elections within 45 to 60 days.
The decision is highly anticipated by all sectors of Thai society and is expected to have a profound impact on the country's political stability and democratic process.
