Thai prime minister suspended after phone call leaks
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from her role by the country’s Constitutional Court following the leak of a phone call between her and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The leaked conversation,which prompted a petition for her dismissal,revealed her expressing support for Hun Sen and offering assistance. The court’s decision was supported by a 7-2 vote as they review a case regarding her potential dismissal, allowing Shinawatra 15 days to present her defense. She publicly apologized, asserting she did not have malicious intentions during the call and is prepared to explain her actions in court. The call itself was related to a long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Shinawatra, who is the youngest and second female prime minister in Thai history, succeeded Srettha thavisin, who was also removed from office recently.
Thai prime minister suspended from office after phone call leaks
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended by the country’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday after a phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked.
A petition for the prime minister’s dismissal was launched after the public heard the call, which Sen said he suspects was leaked by one of his staff members. Shinawatra appeared to act as a Cambodian ally during the chat, calling Sen, a friend of her father, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, “uncle,” and telling him that anything he needs, “just let [her] know, [she’ll] take care of it.”
The court voted 7-2 in favor of the suspension as it decides a case regarding her dismissal, for which Shinawatra has 15 days to submit a defense. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is acting in Shinawatra’s place in the meantime.
Shinawatra gave a second public apology on Tuesday, saying she had “no intent to do it for [her] own interest.” During her apology, she delineated how she will defend herself during the trial.
“If you listened to it carefully, you’d understand that I didn’t have ill intentions,” Shinawatra said. “This is what I’ll focus and spend time on explaining thoroughly.”
Her call with Sen, the Senate president and former prime minister of Cambodia, centered on the border dispute between the two countries, which have had long-standing animosity toward each other. Tensions rose again between the countries in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish with Thai troops.
MUSK PRAISES TRUMP ON FOREIGN POLICY DESPITE TENSIONS REIGNITING OVER ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’
Both Shinawatra’s aunt and father were also removed from office by the Constitutional Court and a coup, respectively. Shinawatra is the second female prime minister of Thailand, after her aunt, and the youngest Thai prime minister ever. She has been in office for less than a year.
Shinawatra’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was also dismissed by the Constitutional Court for appointing his own lawyer, who had previously been imprisoned, to his Cabinet. Shinawatra was sworn in just days after Thavisin’s removal from office.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
