Thailand's Constitutional Court removes PM Paetongtarn over ethics breach

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Friday removed suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for violating the constitution over her phone conversation on the border issue with Cambodia.

A panel of judges agreed by six votes to three to strip Paetongtarn of premiership status, ruling that her actions constituted a serious violation of ethical standards.

The court also dismissed her cabinet, but the remaining members will continue to perform caretaker duties until a new cabinet takes office.

In her address at the government house following the ruling, Paetongtarn said she humbly accepted the verdict, insisting that her intention was to protect people's lives during the border conflict.

Paetongtarn emphasized the importance of collaboration among all parties to restore political stability and prevent similar sudden disruptions in the future.

She also expressed gratitude to all fellow Thai citizens for the opportunity to serve the country as prime minister throughout her nearly one-year tenure.

Paetongtarn was suspended last month pending the court's investigation into her telephone call with Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen over the border dispute, in which the audio recording was leaked online in June.

On July 1, the nine-member court unanimously agreed to accept a petition from a group of senators who sought Paetongtarn's dismissal, accusing her of lacking integrity and seriously breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution due to remarks she made during the conversation.

Following the court's ruling, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will remain as acting prime minister until a new premier is appointed.

The House of Representatives is set to vote for the new prime minister based on the list of candidates submitted before the May 2023 general election.

Paetongtarn, the 39-year-old Pheu Thai Party leader and the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was appointed last August to become Thailand's youngest and second female premier after winning a parliamentary vote.

The appointment came after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was dismissed by the same court over an ethics violation involving the appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.