Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn is ousted by the Constitutional Court due to alleged breach of ethical standards.
In a dramatic turn of events, Thailand's Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Friday, citing an ethics violation in a leaked June telephone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
The controversial phone call, which occurred during a time of tension between Thailand and Cambodia over border disputes, was made at a time when Thailand was restricting border crossings with Cambodia due to a skirmish in a disputed area.
The court found that Ms Paetongtarn violated ethics in the leaked call, as her remarks suggested a lack of unity between the government and the military. The complainants viewed that she failed to act properly in her capacity as prime minister during the phone call.
Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Paetongtarn's protege, is no longer the premier. Ms Paetongtarn, who was Thailand's youngest prime minister, is the sixth premier from or backed by the Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary.
The ruling mandates that Ms Paetongtarn's ministerial status ended on July 1. With her dismissal, the ruling also requires the dissolution of the entire cabinet. This thrusts Thailand into more political uncertainty at a time of simmering public unease over stalled reforms and a stuttering economy expected to grow just 2.3% this year.
After the resignation of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in 2020 and the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Anutin Charnvirakul has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand by the parliament, supported notably by the largest opposition party, People's Party, with the condition of new elections within four months.
The decision paves the way for the election of a new prime minister by parliament. However, Ms Paetongtarn's ruling Pheu Thai Party may face a challenge to shore-up a fragile alliance with a razor-thin majority. Any Pheu Thai administration would likely have only a slender majority and could face frequent parliamentary challenges from an opposition with huge public support.
It is important to note that Cambodia brought its claims to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on June 15, the same day of Ms Paetongtarn's phone call. Thailand opposed Cambodia's intention to bring border issues to the ICJ.
Ms Paetongtarn apologized for the phone call, stating that she was trying to avert a war. Five people are eligible to become prime minister, with only one from Pheu Thai. The decision and the upcoming elections will undoubtedly shape the political landscape of Thailand in the coming months.
