Thai PM says she accepts constitutional court's verdict

Thai PM says she accepts constitutional court's verdict

Thailand's Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, citing ethical misconduct over a controversial phone call with Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen. The ruling, delivered on Friday, makes Paetongtarn the fifth prime minister to be stripped of office by Thai judges since 2008 [1].

The court found that Paetongtarn failed to uphold the ethical standards and integrity required of a prime minister during her call with Hun Sen in June. The conversation, which was leaked, showed Paetongtarn addressing Hun Sen as "uncle" and referring to a Thai military commander as her "opponent," actions that the court deemed damaging to Thailand's reputation [1].

Paetongtarn, who was suspended from her duties on July 1 pending the outcome of the trial, has apologized for the call and said she was trying to avert a war. However, the court's ruling indicates that her actions were deemed to prioritize personal interests over those of the nation [1].

The ruling is the second of three high-stakes court cases against Paetongtarn and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was cleared of a charge of insulting the monarchy last week but faces another court case over his hospital stay instead of prison in 2023 [1].

The removal of Paetongtarn comes at a time of political uncertainty in Thailand. The caretaker cabinet led by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is expected to stay in place until parliament approves a new prime minister. The process could be drawn out, with Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party facing a challenge to shore up a fragile alliance [2].

The ruling also raises questions about Thailand's political system and the power held by establishment institutions such as the monarchy, the military, and the bureaucracy. "How come a democratically elected prime minister keeps being suspended or removed or overthrown in a military coup?" asked Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of international relations at Chulalongkorn University [3].

References:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/29/thai-court-removes-prime-minister-paetongtarn-shinawatra-from-office
[2] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250829-thai-court-sacks-pm-paetongtarn-shinawatra-for-ethics-violations-over-border-clash
[3] https://www.wsj.com/world/thai-prime-minister-ousted-over-leaked-phone-call-a812afd2