Thai Parliament to choose new PM tomorrow

Srettha dismissed for violating ethics by appointing minister who had served jail time

Thailand's Parliament will convene on Aug 16 for a special meeting to choose a new prime minister, the legislature announced on its website, following the court's dismissal of Mr Srettha Thavisin as premier.

According to parliamentary rules, a candidate nominated for prime minister must win support of more than half of the Lower House, which currently has 493 members.

The vote will take place at llam Singapore time on Aug 16, with the ruling coalition due to meet to choose its candidate on Aug 15, reported AFP.

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Aug 14 dismissed Prime Minister Srettha for "grossly" violating ethics by appointing a minister who had served jail time, raising the spectre of political upheaval and a shake-up in the governing alliance.

Real estate tycoon Srettha became the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be removed by verdicts by the court, after its judges ruled 5-4 in favour of dismissing him for failing to perform his duty with integrity.

Mr Srettha's removal after less than a year in power means Parliament must convene to choose a new premier, with the prospect of more uncertainty in a country dogged for two decades by coups and court rulings that have brought down multiple governments and political parties.