Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics violation.<\/p>\n
In its verdict, the court said Shinawatra violated ethics in a leaked telephone call in June, during which she appeared to grovel to Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, when both countries were at the brink of an armed border conflict.<\/p>\n
Fighting erupted weeks later and lasted five days.<\/p>\n
Shinawatra has apologised over the leaked call and said she was trying to avert a war.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t want anything for myself. I was only thinking about how to avoid fighting and avoid bloodshed,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I reaffirm that I truly intend to serve the nation. I have no ill intentions,” she told reporters.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Shinawatra spoke at a press conference after the Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled to remove her from office. (Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa)<\/p>\n
This brings a premature end to the premiership of 39-year-old Shinawatra who became the country’s youngest prime minister in August, 2024.<\/p>\n
Shinawatra is the fifth prime minister in 17 years to be removed by the Constitutional Court.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She also becomes the sixth leader from or backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary.<\/p>\n
This paves way for election of new PM by parliament<\/p>\n
The leading contenders to become prime minister include:<\/p>\n
Chaikasem Nitisiri, a 77-year-old Pheu Thai party member. He is\u00a0a former attorney general with limited cabinet experience, who has maintained a low profile in politics.<\/p>\n
Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former prime minister who has retired from politics and led a military coup against the last Pheu Thai government in 2014.<\/p>\n
Anutin Charnvirakul, a former deputy prime minister before he withdrew his party from Shinawatra’s coalition over the leaked phone call.<\/p>\n