Thai Parliament and Retroactive Impeachment

Abstract

“Retroactive Impeachment” is a political phenomenon that happened in Thailand. The structure and decision process of impeachment were dominated by National Legislative Assembly (NLA) using constitutional mechanism and removed former persons holding political positions. The first time in political history of Thailand that parliament can removed a former persons holding political positions that such actions have become the norms of constitutional law and politics in Thailand. This qualitative research aimed to study parliament as a political institution that are consistent with the spirit and support democratic values. The purpose of the study were (1) to explore efforts to removed former persons holding political positions and (2) to indicates the conditions and the political context that influence the removed a former persons holding political positions. Findings exhibited that the design of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand BE 2540 and the 2550Constitution as a condition and the political context of the elected government cannot be successfully removal position. On the other hands, the removed former persons holding political positions achieved during non-democratic government. In addition, Retroactive impeachment became a tool of the government to establish political legitimacy in order to find a justification to support government. The remove former persons holding political positions has become the norm of constitutional law and politics in Thailand.