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Constitutional Court hears petition seeking premier’s dismissal arsenic abstracted tribunal hears defamation lawsuit against her father.
Published On 1 Jul 2025
Thailand’s ruling governmental dynasty is facing ineligible peril, arsenic the country’s Constitutional Court considers a petition seeking the dismissal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, portion a abstracted tribunal hears a royal defamation suit against her father, erstwhile premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The petition filed by 36 senators and being heard connected Tuesday accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards successful usurpation of the constitution implicit a leaked telephone conversation with Cambodia’s influential erstwhile leader, Hun Sen. If the tribunal accepts the case, it could determine to suspend the premier from work with contiguous effect.
Thaksin besides has his archetypal proceeding astatine Bangkok’s Criminal Court connected Tuesday successful a lawsuit centred connected allegations that helium insulted Thailand’s almighty monarchy, a superior offence punishable by up to 15 years successful situation if recovered guilty. He denies the charges and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.
The kingdom’s authorities person for years been dominated by a conflict betwixt the conservative, pro-military, pro-royalist elite and the Shinawatra family, whom the elite see a menace to Thailand’s accepted societal order.
On Tuesday, Thailand’s Constitutional Court is owed to conscionable for the archetypal clip since a radical of blimpish senators lodged a lawsuit against Paetongtarn, accusing her of breaching ministerial morals during a diplomatic spat with Cambodia.
If the tribunal decides to perceive the case, they could suspend the premier curate arsenic they participate months-long deliberations, plunging Thailand into chaos arsenic it grapples with a spluttering system and the menace of tariffs from the United States.
The contention stems from a June 15 telephone intended to defuse escalating borderline tensions with Cambodia. During the call, Paetongtarn, 38, referred to Hun Sen arsenic “uncle”, and criticised a Thai service commander, a reddish enactment successful a state wherever the subject has important clout. She has apologised and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic.
The leaked speech triggered outrage and has near Paetongtarn’s conjugation with a razor-thin majority, with a cardinal enactment abandoning the confederation and expected to soon question a no-confidence ballot successful parliament, arsenic thousands of demonstrators request the premier resign.
“I volition fto the process instrumentality its course,” a downcast Paetongtarn told reporters connected Monday. “If you are asking whether I americium worried, I am.”
If Paetongtarn is suspended, powerfulness volition walk to her deputy, Phumtham Wechayachai.
The 38-year-old Paetongtarn took bureau little than a twelvemonth agone but has been severely weakened by the Cambodia controversy.
Thailand’s king connected Tuesday approved Paetongtarn’s furniture reshuffle aft her allies quit. She has appointed herself arsenic civilization minister.
Meanwhile, Thaksin, the 75-year-old household patriarch and billionaire doubly elected person successful the aboriginal 2000s, appeared astatine a Bangkok transgression tribunal to look accusations of breaching strict lese-majeste laws utilized to shield Thailand’s king from criticism.
The allegations stem from a 2015 interrogation helium gave to South Korean media and helium faces up to 15 years successful jailhouse aft the trial, which is acceptable to past for weeks, with a verdict not expected for astatine slightest a period aft that.
A tribunal authoritative confirmed to the AFP quality bureau that the proceedings had started but media would not beryllium allowed in.
Thaksin has denied the charges against him and repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.
Thaksin dodged jail and spent six months successful infirmary detention connected aesculapian grounds earlier being released connected parole successful February past year. The Supreme Court volition this month scrutinise that infirmary enactment and could perchance nonstop him backmost to jail.
Source:
Al Jazeera and quality agencies
English (US) ·