Thai leader's suspension deals new blow to battered economy

The Star

a day ago

BANGKOK: Thailand's ruling coalition was already fraying when a court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday (July 1), raising fresh doubts about her survival, the country's economy and the future of a dynasty that has loomed over the South-East Asian nation for decades.
In a blow to a country long plagued by political instability, the Constitutional Court sidelined the 38-year-old leader over a complaint linked to a leaked phone call in which she appeared to criticise the army and side with Cambodia in a border dispute - a potential breach of conduct under the constitution. She has 15 days to respond. For now, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit leads a shaky coalition.
The developments couldn't come at a worse time for Thailand: once feted as an Asian Tiger economy for its export-led growth, the country is mired in slow growth relative to its peers, with households burdened by debt, a budget bill outstanding and the imminent threat of Donald Trump's tariffs weighing down expectations. The government slashed its 2025 growth forecast by a full percentage point to 1.3 per cent in May.
Over at the central bank, Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is due to leave Sept. 30 and a successor has yet to be named.
"No one is at the helm and the Thai ship is going nowhere,' said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. "The budget bill has to be passed, so that's coming up with the wobbly, weak coalition government.'
Amid all the turmoil, the Bhumjaithai Party, the ruling coalition's biggest partner, exited last month following weeks of infighting, and there's no guarantee now others that had promised to stay won't follow.
The court has yet to say how long it will deliberate, while a prolonged delay risks deepening the political vacuum, said Napon Jatusripitak, acting coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
"Thailand appears destined for a prolonged struggle to find a new prime minister and a political deadlock that could jeopardise the country's already fragile economic situation,' he said.
Looming over everything is Thailand's influential military, which has led about a dozen coups since the kingdom's absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932 and has long been a key power broker in the country.
The military and pro-military political parties were the key forces behind Paetongtarn's eventual ascension to power after a key opposition party couldn't secure enough support to form a government following national elections two years ago. That uneasy alliance paved the way for Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, to return from a long exile.
Even with the court's suspension, Paetongtarn isn't totally sidelined from power. Hours before the ruling Tuesday, she was named culture minister in a reshuffle expected to keep her in government. The new cabinet will be sworn in Thursday. But the damage may be permanent. A recent poll showed Paetongtarn's approval rating at 9.2 per cent. Thousands have protested, calling for her resignation.
Paetongtarn said Tuesday she accepts the court's ruling but gave little clarity on her future. "I'm still a Thai citizen,' she said. "I will continue to work for the country while my duties are suspended.'
Even so, fears are growing the government could collapse before the next budget passes. The 2026 fiscal plan, due by August, is at risk. Burin Adulwattana, chief economist at Kasikorn Research Centre, said a lame-duck government would add uncertainty, hurting the baht and stocks.
"A key impact will be felt if the political turmoil leads to a budget delay,' he said. "Without it, the economy will have big trouble.'
The baht fell 0.1 per cent on Wednesday morning. The yield on Thailand's benchmark ten-year bonds was little changed after declining three basis points a day earlier. The benchmark stock index, the world's worst-performing major equity market globally this year, rallied 1.9 per cent Tuesday on expectations that Paetongtarn's suspension will help reduce political tension.
Whether things play out that way is far from certain.
"This suspension exerts further downside risk to a growth outlook already mired in uncertainty from US tariffs,' said Lavanya Venkateswaran an economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore. "The real question is what next. That needs to be answered sooner rather than later considering the stakes.'
If the court ultimately rules against Paetongtarn, she will be removed from office, triggering a parliamentary vote to pick a replacement from a list submitted before the 2023 election. Along with her father and aunt, Yingluck, Paetongtarn would be the third of the Shinawatra clan to be removed from office.
Possible successors include the Pheu Thai party's Chaikasem Nitisiri, Bhumjaithai's Anutin Charnvirakul, United Thai Nation's Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, and the Democrat Party's Jurin Laksanawisit.
Former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha - who led the last coup - is also eligible. And while a military takeover is always possible in Thailand, frustration over the country's economic performance under Prayuth ultimately pressured his government to allow for elections.
"The decision by the court today has heightened the coup risk a bit,' said Thitinan of Chulalongkorn University. But "the last time they had a coup, they did not do well.' - Bloomberg