BANGKOK, Jul 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court, yesterday, suspended Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, from duty, pending a ruling on whether she violated the constitution, a decision that has plunged Thai politics into uncertainty. Here’s what we know about the court decision:
The Constitutional Court’s decision was based on a petition filed by more than 30 senators, who asked the court to rule whether Paetongtarn has breached the constitution on ethical grounds.
The petition itself was submitted, following a leaked audio recording of a phone call in mid-June, between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, president of the Cambodian Senate and former Cambodian prime minister. The recording showed Paetongtarn, addressing Hun Sen as “uncle,” sought his help in easing tensions, over a Thai-Cambodian border clash, that occurred in late May. She even criticised a Thai military commander overseas the border area, in the conversation.
Hun Sen confirmed the authenticity of the recording, stating that, it had been made “to avoid misunderstandings and for the sake of transparency.” He said, he had shared the recording with around 80 senior officials in Cambodia, and suggested that someone who dislikes the Thai prime minister might have leaked it.
Paetongtarn promptly apologised to the public, but insisted that, it was a private conversation and she had only sought to de-escalate the tensions by using personal connections. Paetongtarn’s father and former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has known Hun Sen for over three decades and the two families have shared close relations in the past.
Despite Paetongtarn’s explanation, the leak immediately triggered political backlash against her. Bhumjaithai Party – the second-largest party in the ruling coalition, after Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party – withdrew from the government with all its cabinet members resigning, calling on Paetongtarn “to take responsibility for making the country lose its dignity, honour, and respect for the people and the armed forces.”
The People’s Party, the main opposition, has urged Paetongtarn to dissolve the lower house of parliament for a fresh election. A large rally was held in downtown Bangkok on June 28, calling for Paetongtarn’s removal.
The Constitutional Court met yesterday to consider whether to accept the petition. According to an official statement, all nine judges of the Constitutional Court unanimously voted to accept the petition.
Seven of them voted to suspend Paetongtarn from her prime ministerial duties, while the case is under deliberation. The court said that, temporary measures should be taken to prevent serious and irreparable damage, adding that, the defendant is prohibited from exercising duties and powers related to national security, foreign affairs, and finance, until the court delivers its ruling.
The court has asked Paetongtarn to submit an explanation within 15 days, and it might take some time for the court to deliver the verdict.
Paetongtarn said, she accepts the court’s decision and will seek to prove her innocence. “I will exert my utmost effort, bearing in mind that I had no malice towards the content of the leaked audio recording,” she said.
The court’s decision came less than a year after 38-year-old Paetongtarn was elected last Aug, to become Thailand’s youngest and second female prime minister after winning a parliamentary vote.
Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was himself removed by the Constitutional Court, over an ethical violation, involving the appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.
Thailand faces mounting political uncertainty. Just before the court decision, a royal command was released earlier yesterday, announcing the royal endorsement for a cabinet reshuffle, proposed by Paetongtarn, to fill the vacancies left by former Bhumjaithai ministers. The new ministers are scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, now serves as acting prime minister. Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Chusak Sirinil told reporters yesterday that, Suriya has the authority to fully exercise the powers of the premiership – including reshuffling the cabinet or dissolving parliament – in order to prevent an administrative vacuum or political deadlock.
In the latest reshuffle, Paetongtarn will take on the dual role as minister of culture. Some analysts suspected that, it was a preemptive move to allow Paetongtarn to attend cabinet meetings, as a minister, during the suspension. But Paetongtarn denied it on Monday, saying that, she wanted to serve as the minister of culture to promote Thailand’s soft power.
Even without Paetongtarn’s suspension, the ruling coalition has been weakened by Bhumjaithai’s exit, and now only holds on to a slim parliamentary majority. Bhumjaithai has already said, it would seek a censure debate against Paetongtarn and her government, after the parliament reconvenes later this week.
Paetongtarn could face other potential legal challenges over the leaked phone call. Her father, Thaksin, is also implicated in several cases, including one over a charge of royal insult.– NNN-XINHUA
