Thailand opposition leader accuses judges of mounting 'judicial coup': Video
Leader of Thailand's main opposition party, People’s Party (PP), Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, has accused the country’s judges of carrying out a “judicial coup”.
This comes after the country’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was ousted for ethics violation following a Constitutional Court ruling. The country’s most popular party, the Move Forward Party (MFP) was also dissolved and its leaders were banned from politics.
Ruengpanyawut alleges that these incidents are proof that Thailand is not operating under a full democracy.
According to him powers not accountable to the people have overruled the executive and legislative branches elected by the public.
He called for reforms to limit the Constitutional Court's power, particularly its ability to dissolve political parties and remove prime ministers.
Reungpanyawut also emphasised that his party would continue pushing for reforms, including addressing Thailand's strict lese-majeste laws, while calling on the international community to be vocal in criticising Thailand when democratic norms are breached.
"I want the international community not to hold back on criticism of Thailand just for the sake of diplomacy. If Thailand breached the democratic or human rights principles, Thailand deserves to know what can be changed," he told AFP.
