analysis Singapore
Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call
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BANGKOK: Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday (Jul 1) suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government under fire on multiple fronts.
The court took on the petition from 36 senators that accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution over the leak of a politically sensitive telephone conversation with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen.
"The court has considered the petition ... and unanimously accepts the case for consideration," it said in a statement.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will take over in a caretaker capacity while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn, who has 15 days to respond and will remain in the cabinet as the new culture minister following a reshuffle.
"Government work doesn't stop, there is no problem," Tourism Minister and Pheu Thai Party Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong told Reuters. "Suriya will become caretaker prime minister."
Paetongtarn said on Tuesday that she accepts the court's decision to suspend her.
"I want to apologise to people who are upset by all of this," she told reporters, "I will continue to work for the country as a Thai citizen.
“I only thought about what to do to avoid troubles, what to do to avoid armed confrontation, for the soldiers not to suffer any loss. I wouldn't be able to accept it if I said something with the other leader that could lead to negative consequences,” she said.
She also thanked her supporters and apologised to people who got upset over the leaked call.
