Thailand’s old guard calls the shots as yet another prime minister sacked
Thailand’s political landscape remains dominated by conservative elites, as illustrated by the Constitutional Court’s recent ousting of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over an ethics violation; the 39-year-old daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra became the sixth leader from her family or the Pheu Thai Party removed by the judiciary or military since the 2006 coup, highlighting the enduring influence of the royalist establishment. Political instability, frequent interventions, and excessive power vested in the nine-member court have created policy drift and hindered economic initiatives, while a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen triggered nationalist protests, border clashes, and regional diplomatic pressure. Although Bhumjaithai, which left the ruling coalition in June, is negotiating with allies to form a new government under Anutin Charnvirakul and aims to restore stability and hold elections within months, systemic fragility suggests Thailand’s parliamentary democracy remains constrained, with real authority firmly in the hands of entrenched elites.