PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended over leaked phone call
The Thai Constitutional Court, former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
Paetongtonarn called him “Uncle” and criticized a Thai military commander, led to public anger and petition to dismiss the court.
This may allow Paetongarn to lose power before completing his periods, the third politician in his powerful Shinawatra clan, which has dominated the Thai politics for the last twenty years.
The ruling coalition, after leaving a conservative ally two weeks ago, is already dealing with a thin majority.
The Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend it while taking into account the case for the dismissal and has 15 days to present its defense.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister will serve as the country’s acting leader. However, Paetongarn will remain in the cabinet as a new appointment after a change of cabinet approved hours before it was suspended.
On Tuesday, Paetongarn apologized again and added that the purpose of his telephone conversation with Hun Sen was “more than 100%for the country …”.
The Call was about the border dispute between the two countries – although it was decades, tensions have risen again since the end of May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.
The leaked voice angered the conservative deputies who accused him of applying Hun Sen and weakening Thailand’s army.
But on Tuesday, he defended himself, “I had no intention of doing this for my own interest. I just thought about how to avoid chaos, avoiding fighting and preventing loss of life.
“If you listened carefully, you realize that I have no bad intention. I will focus on this and spend time to explain thoroughly.”
In the end, Paetongarn will be the second prime minister of the Pheu Thai Party, which will be released from the Premiership since August last year.
At that time, his predecessor Srettha Thavisin was dismissed by the Constitutional Court for appointing an ex -lawyer cabinet who was once imprisoned.
Days later, Paetongtarn, his father’s leader Thailand’s dismissed, was the prime minister of Paetongarn, who was Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Tuesday’s decision underlines the power of the Constitutional Court, which critics can be armed to target political opponents.
This court has been terminated since 2006, including the reformist movement, which won the most chairs and votes in the 2023 elections but was prevented from establishing the government.
“This has become a pattern in Thailand politics … Part of Thailand political culture, this is not what a real political process should be,” he said.
“The court should not be suspended by the order of the court, but most people could see the legitimacy because the leaked speech, the public really defends the interest of the country,” he questioned. ”
38 -year -old Paetongarn continues to be the second woman who was only pm after the youngest leader and aunt of the country, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Already struggling to revive a weak economy, Paetongarn saw that the approval grade fell from 30.9% to 9.2% in March last weekend.
The court’s decision is fighting with his father’s father, Paetongarn, who is seen as the driving force behind his government.
Thaksin is struggling to insult the monarchy about an interview with a South Korean newspaper nine years ago. The hearing started on Tuesday.
The controversial political leader who returned to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years of exile is the highest profile figure that faces charges under the country’s malicious Lese Majeste law.
The return of Thaksin was part of a great reconciliation between Pheu Thai and his former conservative enemies.
The coups include two Shinawatra government and groups close to monarchy.
