Politics Search for new prime minister in Thailand - election on Friday

Following the dismissal of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by the Constitutional Court, the kingdom is looking for a successor. The ruling Pheu Thai party is likely to nominate former Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri (75) at a special session of the House of Representatives on Friday, according to Thai media reports. The decision is said to have been made at a meeting at the residence of former head of government Thaksin Shinawatra.

Srettha (62) was removed from office on Wednesday after less than a year in office as part of a lawsuit brought by 40 senators. The verdict came as a surprise to many political observers. The senators had accused the head of government of breaching ethical rules by appointing politician Pichit Chuenban as minister - as he has a criminal record. The Constitutional Court agreed with this.

Previously, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old head of Pheu Thai, was also being discussed as a possible successor. However, Chaikasem, who has a degree in law, was ultimately chosen because he has more experience for the top post in times of great political uncertainty, according to reports. His nomination would be a strategic step towards restoring stability in the Southeast Asian country as quickly as possible. At the same time, there is speculation that the politician is not in the best of health.

Coalition has a comfortable majority

Billionaire Thaksin, who had been in self-imposed exile since 2008, only returned to Thailand in August last year. In June, he was charged with lèse majesté. Despite many legal problems, he is still regarded as an influential string-puller.

In the election, a candidate must win more than half of the votes of the 493 MPs - i.e. at least 247. The ruling coalition has a comfortable majority of 314 votes.

Troubled times in the kingdom

These are once again politically turbulent times in Thailand, where there have been repeated coups d'état, military governments and street protests by the democracy movement in recent decades. Just last week, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) under pressure from conservative forces. The party had clearly won the parliamentary elections last year - but was then booted out and had to go into opposition.

Following its dissolution, the MFP recently re-established itself under a new name: People's Party (PP/People's Party). Its leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut announced that he would not support Chaikasem in the election.

SDA