Thai Court Sacks Prime Minister Over "Unethical" Call with Cambodian Leader

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her position as prime minister, ruling that she violated constitutional ethics in a phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her position as prime minister. (Photo: Ing Shinawatra Facebook)

Sacked after only a year in power, Reuters noted it was another crushing blow to the Shinawatra political dynasty, one that could usher in a new period of turmoil.

Paetongtarn was Thailand’s youngest prime minister but became the sixth premier from, or backed by, the billionaire Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary in a tumultuous two-decade battle for power between the country’s rival elites.

Her leaked June 15 call with Hun Sen, intended to ease tensions over competing border claims, sparked outrage in Thailand.

Critics said Paetongtarn appeared overly friendly while discussing a matter of national security and even maligned a Thai army general.

In its verdict, the court said she violated ethics by “kowtowing” to Cambodia’s former leader at a moment when the two countries were on the brink of an armed border conflict. Fighting erupted weeks later and lasted five days.

The ruling means Paetongtarn immediately loses her job.

She had already been suspended from her duties on July 1 when the court agreed to hear the case, with Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai assuming her responsibilities.