Thai court ruling deals new blow to government

Thailand’s top court on Wednesday rejected the ruling party’s attempt to amend the constitution, dealing a defeat to a government that has been plagued by mass street protests.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling, however, spared the government a worst-case scenario by turning down a request from opponents to dissolve the ruling party.

In its 6-to-3 vote, the court ruled that parliament had committed procedural errors in its bid to amend the constitution, saying that it did not allow critics sufficient speaking time during the debate and that several lawmakers had committed fraud during the electronic voting process. But it said the acts “did not meet the conditions” to dissolve the ruling party.

Wednesday’s ruling follows another political setback to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government when the senate last week rejected its bid to pass a political amnesty bill that critics said was designed to bring home deposed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother.

Analysts said on Wednesday’s ruling could deepen Thailand’s political crisis by angering Thaksin supporters and emboldening his opponents, both of whom have staged mass protests recently.

Whether the Constitutional Court’s action will spark a minor skirmish or a major battle on the long-running war between supporters and opponents of Thaksin – who fled into exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption – depends on how the parties involved react to it.