Thai Constitutional Court removes Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office

In Thailand, the Constitutional Court has ruled to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for appointing Pichit Chuenban, who had been sentenced to 6 months in prison for attempted corruption, to his cabinet. The Constitutional Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote to remove Thavisin, citing that he had violated "ethical standards" by displaying defiant behavior.

Speaking at a press conference following the decision, Thavisin said, "I am confident in my integrity. I am saddened, but I am not saying that I disagree with the ruling."

An interim leader will be selected to replace Thavisin until parliament determines a new prime minister. The 67-year-old Thavisin, who had been in office for less than a year, became the third prime minister to be removed from office by the court in the last 16 years.

The Constitutional Court had accepted the petition for Thavisin's removal, signed by 40 senators, at the beginning of May.