Thai court removes PM Shinawatra over leaked phone call

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after ruling that she violated ethical standards in a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen.

The 39-year-old leader, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was found guilty of misconduct for referring to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticising the Thai military during a June call, at a time of heightened border tensions between the two countries.

The conversation, which Hun Sen himself leaked, sparked accusations that she undermined the army and raised doubts about her loyalty.

In a six-to-three ruling, the nine-member court declared that Paetongtarn’s remarks suggested a “personal relationship” that appeared more favourable to Cambodia than to Thailand’s national interests. Judges rejected her defence that she was merely seeking a non-violent resolution to escalating hostilities, which weeks later erupted into a five-day border conflict that left dozens dead and displaced thousands.

The ruling makes Paetongtarn, the daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the fifth prime minister to be removed from office by the court since 2008.

On Friday, the court’s nine judges voted six to three against Paetongtarn, ruling that her actions had violated ethical standards expected of her office.

The court said that Paetongtarn possessed a “personal relationship” that “appeared to align with Cambodia” and dismissed her claims that the call was a “personal negotiation to… bring back peace without using violence”.

In a ruling, it said “caused the public to cast doubt” on whether her actions “would benefit Cambodia more than the nation’s interest”.

In a brief press conference, Paetongtarn acknowledged the court’s verdict but insisted she was trying to save lives.

Her call with Hun Sen came as tensions rose on the Thai-Cambodia border, which weeks later erupted into a five-day conflict in which dozens of people were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes.

Paetongtarn was thrust into the spotlight after the surprise dismissal of her predecessor Srettha Thavisin by the same court a year ago. She had only joined Pheu Thai in 2021 and became its leader in 2023.

Her replacement will be chosen by parliament, where her ruling Pheu Thai party has a thin majority.

The powerful Shinawatra family have presided over several Thai governments, and Paetongtarn’s removal is a blow to their political dynasty.

She becomes the third Shinawatra to have their premiership cut short: her father Thaksin was deposed by a military coup in 2006, and her aunt Yingluck was also removed by the Constitutional Court in 2014.

Despite his retirement from formal politics years ago, Thaksin remained hugely influential – though it’s now unclear how much influence the Shinawatra name will now continue to bear.

(BBC)

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