Bangkok: Thailand was thrown into fresh political turmoil on Friday after the Constitutional Court disqualified suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for violating ethical standards, according to media reports.
The ruling centered on a leaked June phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, during which Paetongtarn, then navigating tense border standoffs, appeared overly conciliatory. Critics argued her remarks suggested personal ties and favoritism towards Cambodia, undermining national interests.
Paetongtarn, 38, who became the country’s youngest premier last year, apologised after the leak, claiming she was only seeking to defuse hostilities. Despite her explanation, the court declared her actions an “ethical breach.”
The verdict marks yet another chapter in Thailand’s long-running political saga involving the powerful Shinawatra family. Paetongtarn is now the sixth Shinawatra-linked leader ousted by the military or judiciary since her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled in a 2006 coup.
Her tenure lasted barely a year. Though suspended as premier on July 1, she had continued to serve in the Cabinet as culture minister following a reshuffle.
The Bangkok Post noted that the court’s decision may deepen rifts between Thailand’s rival political camps, potentially setting the stage for further instability.
