Thai politics is coming to another turning point. On 1 July, the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after it accepted a petition filed by Senate President Mongkol Surasajja seeking Paetongtarn’s removal for a breach of ethics over the leaked call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. But this is not the first time. Let’s take a look back at the Constitutional Court’s role as the ultimate arbiter in Thai politics.

<div>The judicialisation of politics, or judicial activism, refers to circumstances where the judicial branch becomes an active player in politics, interfering in the affairs of the executive or legislative branches. </div>

<p>The Constitutional Court of Thailand has recently adjudicated on 2 cases concerning alleged attempts to overthrow the country’s democratic system which is covered in Article 68 of the Constitution. In Case No. 15-18/2556, the Court stated that changing the senate from being half-appointed and half-elected to being fully elected is an attempt to overthrow the democratic system. And in the latest case, the Court rejected the amendment of Article 190 of the Constitution for the same reason.</p>