Thailand’s highest constitutional court has removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, ruling that she violated ethical standards.
Paetongtarn, at 37, was the youngest person to hold the position of Prime Minister in Thailand. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. With this court decision, she becomes the sixth person related to or associated with the Shinawatra family to be removed from the Prime Minister’s position. She had been in power for only one year.
The constitutional court’s ruling stated that Paetongtarn had lost her integrity due to prioritizing deception and had acted against ethical standards. In a leaked phone conversation from June with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Paetongtarn was heard speaking in a manner that greatly favored Cambodia in a territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Weeks later, the two countries exchanged attacks in the border area for five days.
With this court decision, the way is paved for the parliament to vote for a new Prime Minister. However, with Paetongtarn’s removal weakening the ruling Pheu Thai Party and their lack of a significant majority in parliament, this process coul could be prolonged.
Of the six judges who heard Paetongtarn’s case, three agreed that she had not acted in the best manner. The court viewed that her close relationship with the former Cambodian Prime Minister allowed for influence over her decisions. The court stated that Paetongtarn had prioritized Cambodia’s interests over Thailand’s national interests, which affected the country’s prestige and reduced trust in the government. The court believes Paetongtarn’s actions compromised Thailand’s sovereign independence.
Paetongtarn said she wanted to protect the lives of civilians and soldiers, stating she wished to ensure their safety before engaging in confrontations.
Paetongtarn is the fifth Prime Minister to be removed from office by Thailand’s constitutional court in the past 17 years. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will take charge of running the country until a new Prime Minister is appointed.
