Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been found by the Constitutional Court to have violated the Constitution in connection with the recording of a conversation between her and President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen.
The court said that Ms. Paetongtarn's telling Mr. Hun Sen that the Commander of Military Region 2, Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, "standing in opposition to her" showed the weakness of the Thai government.
The court also affirmed that the female Prime Minister made an unlimited concession to President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen, bringing him benefits without considering Thailand's "national security", only to save personal prestige, thereby putting personal interests above national interests.
The focus of the case is Paetongtarn's leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in June, as border tensions between the two countries escalated.
During the call, she called Mr. Hun Sen "uncle" and made inappropriate statements about the Commander of Military Region 2. Critics accused her of weakening Thailand's powerful army and criticized her seemingly respectful attitude towards Hun Sen.
Dozens of Thai lawmakers have filed a petition with the Constitutional Court demanding her dismissal, citing Paetongtarn as violating the required ethical standards of a prime minister.
With today's ruling by the Constitutional Court, Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra became the fifth Thai Prime Minister in less than 20 years to be deposed by this court.
She is also the third member of the Shinawatra family to have her term as prime minister shortened: Her father, Thaksin, was ousted in a 2006 military coup and her aunt, Yingluck, was ousted by the Constitutional Court in 2014.
First Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will replace Ms. Paetongtarn as acting Prime Minister. He has been acting prime minister since Ms. Paetongtarn was suspended from office in July.
A new prime minister will be elected by a vote in the House of Representatives.
However, they can only choose from among the pre-elected candidates.
There are currently five people - from four parties - eligible to be nominated as prime minister: Chaikasem Nitisiri, from Ms. Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai Party.
Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, has left the ruling coalition following a phone call leak.
prayuth Chan-ocha, a former prime minister, retired in 2023 - although he is still a candidate for the pro-military United Party of Thailand.
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, is also on the list of candidates of the United Party of Thailand.
Jurin Laksanawisit, a conservative Democratic Party member.
