Thai court ousts prime minister from office

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday voted to officially remove former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her position months after she was initially suspended, according to reports from Thailand-based English-language media. Shinawatra on Friday accepted the court’s ruling after the judges voted 6-3 to find her guilty of ethics violations. The court said she prioritized her personal interests over the country’s security when she spoke negatively about a Thai military commander while on a call with then-Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Shinawatra also called Hun Sen “uncle” in the leaked phone call that occurred as tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border were flaring earlier this summer. She later apologized for her comments during the call, saying they were part of a negotiating tactic as relations with Cambodia worsened. The court’s decision also dissolved Shinawatra’s cabinet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is expected to continue to lead the country until a new vote is held.

Has this happened before? The court last August ousted former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over allegations that he appointed a lawyer who had served prison time to the Cabinet. A total of five prime ministers have been ousted by court rulings since 2008, including Shinawatra’s aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who was removed in 2014. A coup unseated her replacement the same year.

Dig deeper: Read my report about the tension between Thailand and Cambodia.