Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen sparked controversy.
The court found Paetongtarn guilty of violating ethics rules by addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticizing the Thai military during a time of heightened border tensions between the two countries.
This decision marks the fifth time a Thai prime minister has been removed by the Constitutional Court since 2008 and deals a significant blow to the influential Shinawatra family dynasty. Paetongtarn, who took office just over a year ago, had been suspended from her duties while the court deliberated on the case.
The phone call in question was leaked by Hun Sen himself, and Paetongtarn’s remarks were seen as a breach of ethics and a sign of favoritism towards Cambodia. The court’s ruling paves the way for parliament to elect a new prime minister, but the process is expected to be contentious.
