Bangkok, Aug 30 (UNI) A Thai court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, ruling that her controversial phone call with Cambodia’s former leader breached ethics rules, in a move that plunges the kingdom into fresh political turmoil.
Paetongtarn, a member of the powerful Shinawatra political family dynasty, became the country’s youngest prime minister in August 2024 and has served only a year in office, reports CNN.
In a ruling of 6 to 3, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that Paetongtarn “lacks the qualifications and possesses prohibited characteristics” under the Thai constitution, leading to the end of her time in office.
In the leaked call, which took place on June 15 as border tensions with Cambodia escalated, Paetongtarn could be heard calling former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen “uncle” and appeared to criticize her own army’s actions in the border clashes that had led to the death of a Cambodian soldier.
Paetongtarn also added that if Hun Sen “wants anything, just tell me, and I will take care of it” — contentious remarks that became the centre of the case against her.
The court added that Paetongtarn “lacked demonstrable honesty and integrity, and seriously violated or failed to comply with ethical standards” in the phone call.
Her comments in the leaked audio, which was confirmed as authentic by both sides, struck a nerve in Thailand. Nationalist fervour was already running high over the border dispute, and opponents accused her of compromising the country’s national interests.
Weeks later the two countries engaged in a five-day conflict that killed at least 38 people, mostly civilians, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
Paetongtarn apologized to the Thai people “who may feel uneasy or upset about this matter” and said her remarks were a negotiating technique used to defuse tensions.
On Friday, she thanked her country in a news conference held after the court’s ruling was announced.
“This is another time that the court’s decision has created a sudden political change,” she said. “As a Thai, I love my nation, religion and the king. Thank you everyone who gave me knowledge and experience.”
On July one, the court suspended Paetongtarn from prime ministerial duties, though she remained in the Cabinet as culture minister following a reshuffle.
