Thai court dismisses Paetongtarn Shinawatra as PM over leaked phone call

Thailand's Constitutional Court has decided to dismiss Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her role as Prime Minister.

The Court found her guilty of ethics and integrity violations in a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

Ethics violation

"[Paetongtarn]’s actions did not preserve the nation’s pride and considered personal interest over the country’s, which seriously violated or failed to follow the ethical standards," the court said in its verdict.

Paetongtarn, 39, was suspended on Jul. 1 after being accused of violating ethics due to comments she had made regarding members of Thailand’s military during a conflict on the Thai-Cambodia border.

In a leaked phone recording, Paetongtarn was heard addressing Hun Sen as "uncle" and criticised members of the Thai military, including the general in charge of Thai military forces in a disputed border area.

She had apologised for her comments, saying that it was a negotiating tactic.

Latest dismissal 

This makes her the latest Thai PM to be suspended or removed by the Thai Constitutional Court, with her predecessor Srettha Thavisin also removed from his post by the court.

She is also the third Prime Minister from the Shinawatra family to lose power before completing their term, after her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck.

Paetongtarn was in power for a year, being elected as Prime Minister on Aug. 16, 2024.

In a July interview with local media, Thaksin said that Paetongtarn will "just go back and perform her duty as a mother" if she is removed from office.

It is yet to be seen if the dismissal would pave the way for an early election.

Top image via LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP