A powerful Thai court will decide the fate of yet another prime minister on Friday, potentially forcing out the fifth elected leader since 2008 and deepening the country¡¯s political drift.
The case against Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a scion of the country¡¯s most prominent political dynasty, highlights how the country¡¯s conservative establishment ¡ª identified by analysts as an amalgamation of bureaucrats, the military and business elites ¡ª can thwart elected governments, disband political parties and engineer long stretches of military-backed rule.
The decision comes at a delicate time for the country, with its sluggish economy lagging regional peers and facing headwinds from new U.S. tariffs. It will also be a test of the Shinawatra clan¡¯s dominance in Thai politics.
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