Thai PM dismissed by court over leaked phone call with Cambodian leader
The Thai Prime Minister was abolished by the Constitutional Court, immersed the country’s politics into turmoil and took a blow to the most powerful political dynasty.
Paetongarn Shinawatra was dismissed for violating ethics in a leaked June phone call, which called the former leader Hun Sen “Uncle” of Cambodia and worsening the border tensions with Cambodia.
The call that leaked by Hun Sen himself damaged his reputation, and the critics accused him of weakening the country’s army.
The decision made Paetongarn, the daughter of former Prime Minister Shinawatra, the fifth prime minister who will be dismissed by the court since 2008.
On Friday, the court’s nine judges had six to three votes against Paetongarn, and decided that his actions violated the ethical standards expected from his office.
The court said that Paetongarn has a “personal relationship” that seems to be “compatible with Cambodia” and that his call was a personal negotiation to “bring back peace” without violence.
In one decision, “the actions of the people” Cambodia “more benefits than the country’s interest in doubt” to doubt “.
At a short press conference, Paetongtonn accepted the court’s decision, but insisted that he was trying to save lives.
His call with Hun Sen came as a five-day conflict, where dozens of people were killed and hundreds of thousands of people escaped from their homes weeks later.
39 -year -old Paetongarn was pushed to the spotlight after the dismissal of Srettha Thavisin by the same court a year ago. In 2021, he only joined Pheu Thai and became the leader in 2023.
Instead, the ruling Pheu Thai party will be elected by the parliament, a subtle majority.
A coalition partner left his government before, and thousands of people left a thin majority, as he protested to demand his resignation in Bangkok.
The powerful Shinawatra family presided over several Thai government – and the abolition of Paetongarn is a blow to political dynasties.
Shinawatra was the third for Premiership’s short cut: his father Thaksin was dismissed by a military coup in 2006 and his aunt Yingluck was removed by the Constitutional Court in 2014.
Although he retired from official politics years ago, Thaksin remained extremely effective – now it is unclear how much the name Shinawatra will continue to have.
