Thai turmoil

With the constitutional court’s decision to declare the People’s Power Party illegal, a serious situation has just become much more serious. The only effect the decision seems to have had, is to harden opinion on both sides. The protests are about much more than Somchai’s leadership and the reaction to the court’s ruling has borne this out.

It is difficult to see a way out of the present crisis as the recriminations and unrest continue. Army intervention would be catastrophic and elections would be divisive. But one thing is clear: the current situation is untenable.