Verdicts in two significant political cases in Thailand, involving Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Move Forward Party (MFP), are expected by September, according to the Constitutional Court’s president.
Nakharin Mektrairat stated that judges will carefully review the evidence presented and make their decisions by September. He ensured that the cases will be thoroughly deliberated, with each judge having the freedom to make their own judgment.
These cases have the potential to disrupt Thailand’s political landscape. The first case concerns allegations that Srettha’s appointment of a lawyer with a bribery conviction to his cabinet violated the Constitution. This could lead to Srettha’s removal from office, causing political turmoil once again.
The second case involves a complaint filed by the Election Commission seeking the dissolution of the MFP due to their campaign promise to amend the lese-majeste law, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy. The outcome of this case could also have significant repercussions.
If the MFP is dissolved, similar to the dissolution of its predecessor, Future Forward, it could lead to further political unrest and division in Thailand. The uncertainty surrounding the verdicts is already impacting the country’s economy, which has struggled since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hearings for both cases are scheduled for this week, with the MFP case tomorrow and the prime minister’s case on July 10. The resolution of these cases could exacerbate the prevailing sense of uncertainty in Thailand.