Thailand appoints Wechayachai as temporary Prime Minister
In a dramatic turn of events, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been removed from office by the Constitutional Court following charges of ethical misconduct. The ousting occurred on Friday, following a controversial phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the content of which was leaked online.
The phone conversation, which took place amid tension between Thailand and Cambodia, saw Paetongtarn Shinawatra referring to Hun Sen as "uncle", a sign of respect, and Lieutenant-General Boonsin Phadklang, a Thai military commander, as an "opponent".
The Constitutional Court found Paetongtarn Shinawatra guilty of "serious ethical negligence" in her phone conversation with Hun Sen. The court's decision comes after the voice leaked on Facebook, which was admitted to be Paetongtarn's, was from a phone call aimed at reducing border tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Since July 1, Phumtham Wechayachai has been acting as interim prime minister. The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet between Wednesday and Friday to elect a new prime minister.
If the Pheu Thai Party or the Bhumjaithai Party propose a candidate, the Parliament of Thailand will elect Anutin Charnvirakul, the chairman of the Bhumjaithai Party, as the new Prime Minister. Anutin was elected with a clear majority after the ousting of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
It's important to note that Paetongtarn served as prime minister for an unspecified period before her removal. The new prime minister could potentially be from either the Pheu Thai Party or the Bhumjaithai Party.
Interestingly, last week, Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was acquitted in a lese-majesty case, a charge that could have sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Thaksin, like his daughter, has been a prominent figure in Thai politics, having served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.
The border tension between Thailand and Cambodia escalated last month, with armed clashes between the armies of the two countries occurring on July 24. The clashes lasted five days and resulted in at least 44 deaths.
The new prime minister will face the challenge of managing this ongoing conflict and restoring peace between Thailand and Cambodia. The election of a new leader promises to be a significant event in the political landscape of Thailand.
