Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra dismissed over phone call with former Cambodian leader

A court in Thailand dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the office over the phone call she made to Cambodia’s former leader, ruling that the call breached ethics rules, according to reports. 

The ruling was reportedly passed 6-3 by the panel of nine judges.

After a phone call between Shinawatra and the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked, thousands of protestors gathered in the Thai capital, Bangkok and had demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation.  

Shinawatra was heard addressing Hun Sen as ‘uncle’ in the phone call along with making a comment on a Thai military commander handling the dispute saying, ‘just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful’, which sparked public anger, also resulting a key partner in her ruling coalition, to quit.

Shinawatra defended herself, saying that the call was a ‘negotiation technique’, while apologising.

Hun Sen stated that he had shared the audio clip with 80 politicians, and one of them allegedly leaked it. He later shared the entire 17-minute recording on his Facebook page, where it can be heard that the call was about a recent dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, which in turn has led to an increase in tensions between the nations after the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border clash.

A group of senators in June had filed a petition accusing Paetongtarn of breaching the constitution by serious violation of ethical standards over the telephone conversation Hun Sen.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court in July suspended her after accepting a petition seeking her removal from office over a leaked phone call on border issues with Cambodia. 

A panel of judges unanimously voted to accept the petition and ordered Paetongtarn to stop performing her duties as prime minister.

Speaking to reporters at the government house after the ruling, Paetongtarn said she humbly accepted the court’s decision and will submit an explanation within 15 days as requested.

According to local media reports, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit assumed the role of acting prime minister and is set to lead new cabinet members in a swearing-in ceremony.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn had also endorsed a cabinet reshuffle as proposed earlier by Paetongtarn, according to a royal command issued prior to the court decision, following the exit of a key party from the ruling coalition.

Who is Paetongtarn Shinawatra?

Paetongtarn, the 38-year-old Pheu Thai Party leader and the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was appointed last August to become Thailand’s youngest and second female prime minister after winning a parliamentary vote.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)