- Conservative lawmakers accuse her of kowtowing for Cambodia.
- They claim she violated constitutional provisions.
- King of Thailand approves Paetongtarn’s cabinet change.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended on Tuesday by the country’s Constitutional Court when it opened a probe in her behavior in a diplomatic spat with Cambodia.
The kingdom’s policy has been dominated for years by a struggle between the conservative, pro-military, pro-royalist elite and the Shinawatra clan, which they consider a threat to Thailand’s traditional social order.
The battle for 38-year-old Paetongtarn came the same day as her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was facing a criminal court over allegations of royal defamation.
Paetongtarn took power less than a year ago, but will be suspended while the Constitutional Court is considering whether she violated ministerial under the border series.
A prolonged territorial conflict with Cambodia boiled over in the cross -border clash in May and killed a Cambodian soldier.
When Paetongtarn called Cambodian ex-leader she late to discuss the tensions, she called him “uncle” and mentioned a Thai military commander as her “opponent”, according to a leaked recording that caused widespread setbacks.
Conservative legislators accused her of connecting to Cambodia and undermining the military, claiming she violated constitutional provisions that demanded “obvious integrity” and “ethical standards” among ministers.
“The Constitutional Court with a majority of 7-2 suspends the respondent from Prime Minister’s duty from July 1 until the Constitutional Court has made its decision,” a statement states.
‘Critical Dilution’
Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party has already been abandoned by an important conservative coalition partner over the scandal, and thousands protested against her leadership in Bangkok over the weekend.
Thailand King on Tuesday approved Paetongtarn’s cabinet change after her allies stopped.
She assigned herself to the Minister of Culture’s attitude and must take the position on Thursday, but it is unclear whether she could take this role while being investigated by the Constitutional Court.
Separately On Tuesday, her father Thaksin arrived at a Bangkok penalty for being accused of violation of strict Lese Majesty Laws used to protect Thailand’s king from criticism.
The claims come from a 2015 interview he gave to South Korean media, and he faces up to 15 years in prison if they are convicted. The trial must last for weeks, with a judgment that is not expected for at least one month after that.
A court of the court affirmed to AFP The trial began on Tuesday morning with Thaksin, but said media would not be allowed in.
“I can’t talk on his behalf about how he is doing, but I think he seems to be chill,” his lawyer Winyat Chatmontri told AFP outside the court.
Thai political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told AFP “There is a direct undeniable connection between the two cases,” as the mark of the Shinawatra family faces “a critical dilution”.
