House Of Representatives To Convene 16 Aug To Select New PM

Members of the Thai House of Representatives will convene on Friday 16 August to elect a new prime minister following the removal from office of incumbent Srettha Thavisin due to a court ruling earlier today. Srettha and his cabinet were dismissed by the Constitutional Court after his appointment to the Cabinet of an individual who had previously served time in prison deemed to have violated ethical norms (see 'THAILAND: Verdict In PM Srettha's Ethics Case Expected At 09:00BST/15:00ICT' 0738BST, 'THAILAND: Constitutional Court Deems PM Srettha Guilty Of Ethics Violations, Removes Him From Post' 0944BST, and 'THAILAND: Phumtam Wechayachai Expected To Lead Caretaker Gov't As Talks On Next PM Are Set To Begin' 1114BST).

• To be appointed PM the candidate will require a majority of the 493 members of the House of Representatives. This marks a different system than when Srettha was appointed, with the approval of a majority of the entire parliament (National Assembly) needed. Back then the military-appointed 200-member Senate was, in league with other military-aligned parties in the House, able to block the approval of pro-democracy Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat.
• Only those put forward as PM candidates in the 2023 election are eligible to be considered for the position now, and given the court ruling from last week that barred him from office for 10 years. Without needing the Senate votes, there is the possibility of the People's Party (formed by former MFP lawmakers) having a greater say in the identity of the next PM.