BANGKOK, Aug 14 (TNA) – Thai academics and private sector leaders have cautioned against dissolving the parliament if Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is removed from office, citing potential economic repercussions.
The Constitutional Court sets to rule on Srettha’s ethical conduct today, regarding his appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a minister in his office in April, despite allegations that Pichit once convicted lacked necessary qualifications.
In the event of Srettha’s disqualification, the Pheu Thai Party, which leads the ruling coalition, should instead swiftly select a new prime minister from among its candidates and expedite the implementation of its policy agenda, particularly the digital wallet initiative, experts suggested.
Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and advisor to the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, noted that if Srettha remains in power, he must accelerate the implementation of all policies to restore investor confidence and bring stalled projects, especially the digital wallet program, to fruition.
However, if Srettha is disqualified, the caretaker deputy prime minister must decide on the next steps. Dissolving parliament, according to Thanavath, would not be beneficial for the Pheu Thai Party or its coalition partners.
He proposed that the Pheu Thai Party nominate one of its other prime ministerial candidates to lead the government, ensuring the continuity of the digital wallet project and other policies. This approach, he argued, would be more advantageous for the party and the coalition than holding a new election, which could potentially stall the Thai economy for an entire year.
Chaicharn Charoensuk, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, expressed a similar view, stating that regardless of the Constitutional Court’s ruling, the overall outlook for Thailand’s exports this year remains positive due to strong global demand for Thai products. The private sector, particularly the maritime shipping industry, seeks unity within the government. Chaicharn emphasized that any party or individual assuming the leadership role must have a clear plan and strategy for driving Thailand’s development. This, he believes, would attract greater international attention and investment. 819 (TNA)
