Stormier times lie ahead in Thai politics

Significance

The spotlight now turns to two other judicial cases: one in which the same court will rule on a petition seeking Srettha Thavisin’s removal as prime minister and the other in which Thaksin Shinawatra is accused of violating laws on lese majeste and computer crime. Srettha belongs to the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which remains under Thaksin’s influence.

Impacts

• Pheu Thai will not be at immediate risk of any move to dissolve it, no matter what the verdicts in the Srettha and Thaksin cases.
• No protests over this week’s ruling will match the largest of those that followed the dissolution of Move Forward’s predecessor party.
• US and EU criticism of the action against Move Forward will not jeopardise Bangkok’s relations with Washington and Brussels.