Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra Ousted by Court Over Cambodia Call, Triggering New Political Uncertainty
It was claimed that on June 15, Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra spoke with Hun Sen. He is the leader of the Cambodian Senate. It led to her dismissal.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) August 30: After a year in power, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted from office on Friday by the Constitutional Court.
She was fired weeks after being suspended. It has increased tensions along the Thai-Cambian border.
Court rules against Paetongtarn
According to the Associated Press, the court decided on Friday, 6–3, that Shinawatra had broken ethical rules. She has put at risk the national interest in a phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Se.
The court finds that the prime minister had violated Section 170 (1)(4) and Sections 106 (4) and (5) of the Constitution. It requires a minister to be dependable, open to inspection in all areas and display clear integrity.
The court also criticizes the PM's use of language when speaking to the commander of the Second Army Region over the phone with the leader of Cambodia.
According to the court, this conduct reveals internal division and suggested partisanship. It would have permitted Cambodia to interfere in Thailand's internal affairs.
The court states that the public no longer has faith in her leadership because of her talk with Hun Sen. It has caused her to prioritize her own interests over that of the country.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra appears to be criticizing a Thai army general in charge of border forces. She calls Hun Sen her uncle. He is an old friend of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Senators file integrity complaints
A number of senators complain about her after the incident. They claim that she lacked "demonstrable honesty and integrity". She seem to prioritize her personal relationships over the interests of the country.
According to the Associated Press, Paetongtarn expresses regret. She says that her strategy was a bargaining tactic to avoid confrontation.
Elections to be held soon
There will now be another round of elections in Thailand. According to the constitution, the government may be formed by selecting candidates who were the parties' prime ministerial nominees before 2023.
Chaikasem Nitisiri, 77, is now the only candidate in the running for the ruling Pheu Thai party. Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy prime minister, assumed Paetongtarn's duties until a new prime minister is elected. The current Cabinet will remain in a caretaker administration.
Paetongtarn was removed after a year in office. She became the leader of a shaky coalition government last year. It was restricted by Thailand's 2017 military-backed constitution. It uses instruments like an unelected Senate and strong judiciary to restrict the authority of democratic governments.
On July 1, the Constitutional Court agreed to hear a petition by conservative senators to remove Paetongtarn, and she was suspended from her position.
She was also the youngest prime minister of Thailand. She is the sixth premier to be ousted by the military or the courts. Her aunt Yingluck was ousted from office by the Constitutional Court in early 2014. Her father Thaksin was overthrown in a coup in 2006.
This court decision has once again caused political unrest in the Southeast Asian nation.
