Some Thais have been looking to the courts to resolve the country's interminable political conflict. So far, however, they are only making things worse-and making the country look rather silly in the process. On September 9th the Constitutional Court ordered Samak Sundaravej, the prime minister, to step down for breaching a ban on ministers having outside jobs. Mr Samak's offence was to make a handful of appearances as a television chef, continuing the parallel career that he has been following in recent years alongside his main job as an abrasive right-wing politician. The court rejected his claim that the 80,000 baht ($2,400) he received for doing the cookery shows earlier this year was not a fee, just reimbursement for ingredients and other expenses.
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