Thai Prime Minister Suspended & Accused Of Ethical Lapses In Conversation With Cambodian Leader

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday (1) suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, saying it was deliberating a complaint that could result in her permanent removal from the job.

A group of senators has accused Ms. Paetongtarn of ethical violations in talks over a simmering border dispute with Cambodia’s de facto leader, Hun Sen. She appeared to take a deferential tone with Hun Sen in the conversation, which was private but was released online by him to gain leverage.

The move created a spiraling crisis for Paetongtarn. For more than a week, she has faced heated calls to step down, with thousands of protesters gathering in Bangkok on Sunday to demand her resignation. Her governing coalition has suffered a major defection and her government could soon face a no-confidence vote.

The court suspended Paetongtarn in a 7-2 ruling.

It is the latest upheaval in Thailand, which has suffered from long stretches of political uncertainty in recent years. It also leaves Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy in a leadership vacuum at a time when its economy is facing a slowdown. And it has raised concerns that the military, which has long intervened in political crises, could stage another coup.