2024 witnessed upheaval in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by the Constitutional Court.
He was swiftly replaced by the ruling party’s leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who gained overwhelming support from coalition MPs to become only the second woman in Thai history to serve as prime minister.
Her rise came after a Constitutional Court ruling on August 14 that Srettha had breached the charter’s requirement that ministers have “evident integrity” and high ethical standards by appointing a minister with a prison record. He was ousted from his post as Thailand’s 30th prime minister after just 11 months and 14 days.
All decisions of the court are final and cannot be appealed.
Srettha’s removal stemmed from his decision to appoint former lawyer Pichit Chuenban as PM’s Office minister. The case was brought by a group of 40 caretaker senators. Pichit had served time in jail over a decade earlier.
In June 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced Pichit to six months in prison for contempt of court after he and two junior colleagues were caught attempting to bribe court officials.
They reportedly handed over a paper bag containing 2 million baht in cash. At the time, Pichit was representing ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra in the Ratchadaphisek land case. Later that year, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political
Officeholders sentenced Thaksin in absentia to two years in jail for abuse of power in connection with his wife’s purchase of the coveted state-seized land plot at a price far below market value.
The Thaksin factor
Thaksin, who is the father of PM Paetongtarn, is regarded as Pheu Thai’s patriarch and de-facto leader. He is believed to wield considerable influence over the ruling party and the governing coalition, earning the moniker of “real prime minister” for his fierce defence of Pheu Thai policies, attacks on the ruling party’s critics, and calls for uncooperative coalition partners to leave the government.
Just two days after Srettha was removed by court order, the House of Representatives on August 16 voted in Paetongtarn as the country’s 31st prime minister.
Paetongtarn, as the sole candidate for the position, received 319 votes in favour and 145 votes against, with 27 abstentions. Needing only a simple majority of 248 votes from 493 sitting MPs, she comfortably secured the top post.
Srettha had faced a tougher challenge as Pheu Thai candidate when he was elected PM on August 22, 2023, needing majority support from both the Lower House and the Senate to secure the post.
Paetongtarn’s election bid earned support from six major partners in Srettha’s Pheu Thai-led coalition – Bhumjaithai, Palang Pracharath, United Thai Nation, Chartthai Pattana, Prachachat, and Chartpattana Kla – swelled by votes from MPs in the opposition camp who would later join her administration.
However, Palang Pracharath was later ousted from her government following a conflict between its leader, General Prawit Wongsuwan, and Thaksin. However, a dissident faction of Palang Pracharath MPs led by the party’s former secretary general Thamanat Prompow, joined Paetongtarn’s government.
Advisers to the rescue
Paetongtarn, who turned 38 on August 21, is a political novice with no experience in public administration, government policymaking, or even Parliament. Before entering politics, she was a senior executive and major shareholder in several Shinawatra family-owned companies.
Analysts suggest that her rapid rise to become Pheu Thai leader and then prime minister would have been impossible without her father’s influence and connections.
They believe that Thaksin had no choice but to rely on Paetongtarn, despite her young age and lack of political experience, to retain the family’s political power.
The inexperienced new PM quickly found support, with several political veterans loyal to Thaksin stepping up as her advisers. Just a month after assuming office, PM Paetongtarn appointed a team of five strategists who worked for her father during his time in power from 2001 to 2006.
Analysts expect these experienced advisers to offset Paetongtarn’s political naivety and lack of experience in government.
“A strong team of advisers can boost the confidence of businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and investors. Their appointment reflects an attempt to make up for any weaknesses the young prime minister may have.
These advisers are necessary, as she lacks political experience and has never run the country before,” said Olarn Thinbangtieo, a lecturer at Burapha University's Faculty of Political Science and Law.
