Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn is dismissed by the Constitutional Court due to alleged ethics breach
Thailand's Constitutional Court Removes Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
In a historic decision, Thailand's Constitutional Court has sacked Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, effective from July 1. The ruling comes after a leaked phone call in which Ms Paetongtarn appeared to kowtow to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, suggesting a lack of unity between the government and the military.
The controversial phone call, made during a time of tension between Thailand and Cambodia over border disputes, occurred on June 15 - the same day Cambodia brought its claims to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Thailand opposed this move, stating that it would undermine the sovereignty of the nation.
The court concluded that Ms Paetongtarn's behavior in the leaked call indicated partisanship and exposed internal divisions, potentially weakening Thailand's position and allowing Cambodia to interfere in domestic affairs. Ms Paetongtarn apologized and said she was trying to avert a war in the leaked call.
The ruling results in the dissolution of the entire cabinet. Thailand's economy, expected to grow just 2.3% this year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT), may face further challenges due to the political instability.
With Ms Paetongtarn's resignation, the premiership is now up for grabs. According to political scientist Stithorn Thananithichot, the appointment of a new prime minister may take considerable time. There are five people eligible to become prime minister, with only one from Pheu Thai, Chaikasem Nitisiri.
However, the person elected by the Thai government after Ms Paetongtarn's resignation is Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the conservative-populist Bhumjaithai Party. His election follows political negotiations and is supported by the largest opposition party, the People's Party, with the condition of new elections within four months.
The 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.
The decision paves the way for the election of a new prime minister by parliament. The premiership of Ms Paetongtarn, the daughter and protege of Thaksin Shinawatra, has come to an end. Ms Paetongtarn was Thailand's youngest prime minister.
The controversial phone call was made at a time when Thailand was restricting border crossings with Cambodia due to skirmishes and incursions. The ruling marks a significant shift in Thai politics, and the country awaits the outcome of the political negotiations to determine its future leadership.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Thai electorate supports business magnate from Generation X as prospective Prime Minister
- Fixing a crucial aspect in Apple's Studio Display stands to improve the experience for both gamers and creative professionals alike.
- Tensions over the contested border between China and India are under discussion at a crucial meeting, while Putin discusses Trump matters.
