A powerful Thai court will decide the fate of yet another prime minister on Friday, potentially forcing out the fifth elected leader since 2008 and deepening the country’s political drift.
The case against Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a scion of the country’s most prominent political dynasty, highlights how the country’s conservative establishment — identified by analysts as an amalgamation of bureaucrats, the military and business elites — can thwart elected governments, disband political parties and engineer long stretches of military-backed rule.
The decision comes at a delicate time for the country, with its sluggish economy lagging regional peers and facing headwinds from new U.S. tariffs. It will also be a test of the Shinawatra clan’s dominance in Thai politics.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.