Thai Constitutional Court to weigh petition seeking PM's dismissal
BANGKOK: Thailand's Constitutional Court was due to meet on Tuesday to consider a petition seeking the dismissal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as pressure mounts on a government battling to survive and under fire on multiple fronts.
The petition by 36 senators accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution, over a leaked telephone conversation with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen. If the court accepts the case, it could decide to suspend the premier from duty with immediate effect.
During a June 15 call intended to defuse escalating border tensions with Cambodia, Paetongtarn, 38, kowtowed before Hun Sen and criticised a Thai army commander — a red line in a country where the military holds significant clout. She has apologised and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic.
The leaked conversation triggered outrage and has left Paetongtarn's coalition with a razor-thin majority, with a key party abandoning the alliance and expected to soon seek a no confidence vote in parliament, as thousands of demonstrators demand the premier resign.
Paetongtarn's battles after only 10 months in power underline the declining strength of the Pheu Thai Party, the populist juggernaut of the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty that has dominated Thai elections since 2001 — enduring military coups and court rulings that have toppled multiple governments and prime ministers.
It has been a baptism of fire for political novice Paetongtarn, who came to office abruptly as Thailand's youngest premier and replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court for violating ethics by appointing a minister who was once jailed.
Paetongtarn's government has also been struggling to revive a stuttering economy, and her popularity has declined sharply. A June 19–25 opinion poll released at the weekend showed her approval rating sinking to 9.2 per cent from 30.9 per cent in March.
Paetongtarn is not alone in her troubles. Her influential father Thaksin Shinawatra, the driving force behind her government, is facing legal hurdles of his own in two different courts this month.
The divisive tycoon has his first hearing at Bangkok's Criminal Court on Tuesday, in a case centred on allegations he insulted Thailand's powerful monarchy — a serious offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. He denies the charges and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.
The case stems from a 2015 media interview Thaksin gave while in self-imposed exile. He returned in 2023 to serve a prison sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power. Thaksin, 75, dodged jail and spent six months in hospital detention on medical grounds before being released on parole in February last year.
The Supreme Court will this month scrutinise that hospital stay and could potentially send him back to jail.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Dynasty in distress: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn's fate in limbo
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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'My history is being stolen': scandal-prone Spanish former king to publish memoirs
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Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Thai court suspends PM from duty pending leaked call case deliberation
In this file photo taken on April 24, 2022, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, gestures during the Pheu Thai party's annual meeting in Bangkok. – AFP photo BANGKOK (July 1): Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending deliberation of a case involving her controversial leaked phone call with Cambodia's leader, Hun Sen. In a statement, the court said it had accepted a petition from 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution. The Constitutional Court judges unanimously agreed to accept the petition and voted 7–2 to suspend Paetongtarn from performing her duties. 'The court unanimously resolved to accept the petition for consideration, notify the petitioner and allow the respondent to submit a defence within 15 days of receiving a copy of the petition,' the court said. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungrungreangkit will assume the role of acting prime minister while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn. During a 15 June phone call with veteran Cambodian politician Hun Sen, Paetongtarn reportedly discussed an ongoing border dispute. She allegedly blamed miscommunication by her own military and referred to a prominent Thai military commander at the border as 'the opposite side.' The leaked phone call was confirmed as authentic by both Hun Sen and Paetongtarn. Paetongtarn was heard addressing the Cambodian leader as 'uncle' during the conversation. Earlier Tuesday, Paetongtarn reshuffled her Cabinet following the departure of a key coalition partner and vacancies in ministerial portfolios. King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed the Cabinet reshuffle, with the new line-up set to take an oath of office on July 3. In the new Cabinet line-up published in the Royal Gazette, there are 14 new appointments, while six ministers have been reassigned to new portfolios. – Bernama Court leaked phone call Paetongtarn Shinawatra Thailand
