The Constitutional Court of Thailand recently made a decision to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, marking the fourth instance in the past two decades where a prime minister has been ousted by the courts. This move adds to the concerns over the increasing influence of unelected institutions in Thai politics. Thais are no strangers to abrupt changes in government, often due to military coups that have occurred frequently throughout history.

The court’s ruling to dismiss Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was based on his violation of a law on ethical conduct by appointing a Cabinet member previously involved in a bribery case. Critics view this decision as another example of undemocratic institutions exerting undue authority over elected officials, showcasing a concerning pattern in Thai politics.

In a separate instance last week, the court dissolved the progressive Move Forward Party, the party with the most seats in the last election. The party faced dissolution for proposing to amend a law regarding defamation of the royal family, which was interpreted as a threat to the constitutional monarchy. These actions have led some political analysts to describe the court’s interventions as “judicial coups” that disrupt the balance of power in a democratic system.

In recent years, various state bodies including the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission have also been criticized for their contentious use of constitutional powers to remove officials from office. These actions have raised concerns about the impartiality of these institutions and their alignment with the interests of the royalist establishment, particularly in their treatment of political figures linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The ongoing power struggles and interventions by unelected bodies in Thailand have heightened political tensions and hindered the consolidation of a stable democracy in the country. The repeated dissolution of political parties and removal of elected leaders through legal challenges have prompted calls for a reevaluation of the role of these institutions to ensure a more democratic and transparent political process in Thailand.