Thai Court ousts Paetongtarn Shinawatra as PM

AWANI

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for ethics violation, deepening political uncertainty and weakening her Pheu Thai party’s hold on power after only a year in office.

Transcript

00:00Thailand's constitutional court has removed suspended Prime Minister Pek Tong Tan Srinawat from office

00:06after finding her guilty of ethical misconduct over a controversial phone call with Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen.

00:14The ruling makes Pek Tong Tan the fifth Prime Minister to be stripped of office by Thai judges since 2008

00:20and plunges the kingdom into another political uncertainty and potentially a snap election.

00:27The court ruled the 39-year-old breached ethical standards over the phone call

00:31meant to prevent a border conflict from escalating.

00:35The court said Pek Tong Tan had put her personal interests over those of the nation

00:40and damaged the country's reputation.

00:43With that decision, the Thai Parliament is now tasked with electing a new Prime Minister

00:47though no timeline has been set.

00:50Pek Tong Tan admitted her mistake, saying she sought to prevent war rather than undermine national interests.

00:56In a press conference, she said the court's verdict marked a change in Thai politics

01:01and required cooperation from all political sides.

01:05Deputy Prime Minister Pumta Mui Chai Achai and the Cabinet will serve as caretakers

01:10until a new leader is chosen, according to reports the Pure Thai Party

01:14named 77-year-old former Justice Minister Chai Qasem Nithisiri as Prime Ministerial Candidate.

01:21Meanwhile, the leader of Thailand's main opposition People's Party

01:26said that the next Prime Minister must dissolve parliament within four months.

01:31Natapong Roeng Panyawood said that the party would not join any government

01:35but could support others forming an administration under conditions.

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