Bangkok, Thailand
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The Thai court removed the suspended Prime Minister Paeton Shinawatra from the office on Friday and ruled that she had violated the rules of ethics with former Cambodian leaders, a move that plunged the kingdom into new political turmoil.
Paetontarn, a member of the powerful Shinawatra political family dynasty, became the country's youngest prime minister in August 2024, serving only one year.
In the rulings of 6 to 3, Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled that Paetontarn “lack of the qualifications of the Thai Constitution and possessed the characteristics of prohibition”, resulting in the end of her time in office.
In the leaked call on June 15, as tensions escalated with Cambodia, Paetontarn could be heard calling former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen “Uncle” and appeared to criticize his army operations in the border conflict, resulting in the death of Cambodian soldiers.
Paetongtarn also added that if Hun Sen “want anything, please let me know and I'll take care of it” – the controversial remarks became the center of the case against her.
The court added that Paetongtarn “lacks proven honesty and integrity and has a serious violation or failure to comply with ethical standards on the phone”.
Her comments in the leaked audio were confirmed by both sides as real voices, shocked in Thailand. The enthusiasm of the nationalists has already taken a high level of attitude in the border dispute, with opponents accusing her of harming the country’s national interests.
A few weeks later, the two countries had a five-day clash, killing at least 38 people, mainly civilians, and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Paetongtarn apologized to the Thai people, “may be upset or upset about the matter” and said her remarks were a negotiation technique used to spread tensions.
She thanked her country at a press conference after the court announced the ruling on Friday.
“This is another period of political change that suddenly occurred in the court's judgment,” she said. “As a Thai, I love my country, religion and king. Thank you to everyone who gave me knowledge and experience.”
On July 1, the court suspended Paeton's responsibilities as prime minister, although she remained the Minister of Culture after the reorganization.
The Constitutional Court’s ruling on Friday represents another wave of the rapids of political turmoil in Thailand, in which those who drive change often foul the agency – a small but powerful group of military, royalists and business elites.
Paetontarn's father, influential and divisive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, survived last week, against his Lese Majeste case, which may see him sentenced to jail for up to 15 years.
Over the past two decades, dozens of MPs faced bans, political parties have been dissolved, the prime minister was overturned in a coup or court rulings – the judiciary plays a central role in the ongoing war of power.
In the past three years alone, the Kingdom has seen two prime ministers removed from the office and a party that won the election dissolved. Prior to that, former Army Commander Prayut Chan-o-Cha ruled the Prime Minister for nine years after the 2014 coup.
Paetongtarn is the latest person in her family to be seen as prime minister – a party that has been aligned with Thaksin has won elections repeatedly but has worked hard to continue to rule.
Paetontarn's aunt Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from office before the military seized power in a 2014 coup, and her father escaped more than 15 years of self-exile in 2006 after the military overthrew the government in order to evade allegations of corruption.
Her uncle, Somchai Wongsawat, briefly served as prime minister in 2008, but was removed from office in a court ruling.
After Paetongtarn took office herself, her ex Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by the same Constitutional Court in a shock court ruling last year.
Srettha leads the Thai Party to form a government with its conservative and pro-military rivals after the 2023 general election. The uneasy coalition was to prevent the progressive forward party, which won the most votes and took office after pledging to reform the deep-ruling institutions of Thailand, including the monarchy.
With Muay Thai again in power, Thaksin was allowed to return to his homeland, but he still played a major role in behind-the-scenes politics.
The verdict on Paetontarn could cause trouble for the political fate of the powerful Shinawatra family.
The clan has ruled Thai politics for more than 20 years, but the government is now on the shaky ground. The internal conflicts of the ruling coalition and the delayed introduction of flagship policies have weakened the economy's ability to dominate as it falters. The leaked phones plummeted the party's popularity has dropped.
Pheu Thai now has to nominate a new candidate for the Prime Minister, which will be voted by a 500-seat parliament. Their last choice was former Attorney General Chaikasem Nitisiri, although it was unclear whether he would get the necessary votes from the party's coalition partners.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai party, will serve as another candidate for the prime minister, withdrawing from the coalition and resigning from a leaked phone call from Paetontarn to serve as deputy prime minister and interior minister.
If the party fails to propose a new prime minister, it will raise the prospects for a new election, while the Thai Thais are much weaker.
Some analysts say the agency will still benefit Thaksin-backed parties as it will serve as a firewall for the main opposition BJP, which is seen as a major dissatisfaction with the Thai agency and ratings on its reformist agenda and high recognition.
This story has been updated as it develops.