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Court removes Thai PM from office

– Political vacuum? –

Normally, a deputy prime minister can replace the premier in the event of their dismissal until a new government is formed through elections.

But the court ruling against several senior cabinet ministers leaves a question mark over who is able to take over the top job.

The kingdom could move into uncharted territory, leaving the nation without a premier, cabinet and lower house – which was dissolved to hold elections in February that were later annulled. READ: Thailand set for chaotic polls after protest bloodshed.

In that scenario, the anti-government protesters are expected to swiftly push for the Thai Senate to appoint a premier and government – a key aim as they seek to reform Thailand’s political system to curb the influence of the Shinawatra family.

“If the government does not accept the verdict… then it’s up to the people to come out and pressure them to accept it,” Akanat Promphan, spokesman for the anti-government movement told AFP before the ruling.

The ruling Puea Thai party has accused the court of railroading through Yingluck’s case to satisfy its political bias against the Shinawatras.

The Constitutional Court oversees cases of violations of Thailand’s charter, which was rewritten after Thaksin’s removal.

In 2008, the court forced two Thaksin-linked prime ministers from office.

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It also annulled the February election called by Yingluck to shore up her flagging administration, citing widespread disruption by opposition protesters.

Yingluck is also to find out over the coming days if she will be indicted by anti-graft officials for neglect of duty charges in connection with a costly rice subsidy scheme.

An unfavourable ruling could also see her impeached by the senate and banned from politics for five years.

Six months of street protests have left 25 people dead and hundreds wounded in gun and grenade attacks, kindling fears of wider clashes between rival political sides.

Pro-government “Red Shirts” say they will not accept another democratically elected government being upended by the Thai courts.

With both sides convinced they can prevail, the ongoing battle for “Thailand’s soul” looks set to drag on, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

“Somehow both sides have to think that they cannot win it all – that’s when we will see some compromise… but right now we are likely to see things get much worse before things get better.”

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