Reuters interviewed residents of Bangkok after the Constitutional Court ruled 5-4 to dismiss Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, 62, from office on August 14. This development marks yet another political upheaval in Thailand within a year.
A 60-year-old bookstore owner expressed concerns about the economy, saying, “The economy has been very sluggish. Last week, when the Move Forward Party was ordered to disband, the economy slowed down. And now, with the Prime Minister dismissed, it remains quiet. If politics continues this way, I believe the country’s economy cannot progress.”
On the other hand, a 65-year-old street food vendor seemed less worried about the political turmoil. “I’m not too concerned about politics because, in the end, someone else will take the position. I’m not surprised by what happened because Thailand is like this,” she remarked.
A 47-year-old motorcycle taxi driver shared his thoughts, saying, “Who will be the next Prime Minister depends on Parliament’s decision and what they plan to do. We are just citizens waiting for answers from those above.”
Reuters reported that Thailand is witnessing another round of “political drama” in less than a year, following Srettha’s brief tenure as Prime Minister after the Pheu Thai Party regained power amid a parliamentary deadlock that lasted several weeks. The Pheu Thai Party is set to hold a meeting to select Srettha’s successor and must quickly gather support before Parliament votes for a new Prime Minister on Friday. (TNA)
