Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after ruling that she violated ethical standards during a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The 39-year-old, daughter of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was heard addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticising the Thai army in the June call, which was later leaked by Hun Sen himself amid escalating border tensions.
Judges voted 6-3 to remove her, saying her conduct raised doubts about whether she placed Cambodia’s interests above Thailand’s. The ruling makes her the fifth Thai prime minister ousted by the court since 2008.
Paetongtarn accepted the verdict but defended her actions, saying she had sought to prevent bloodshed. Weeks after the call, fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border left dozens dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee.
She had taken office after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was also dismissed by the court last year.
Hours after Friday’s ruling, the conservative Bhumjaithai Party declared it had secured enough parliamentary support to form a new government led by its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul.
