Thailand's prime minister has been removed by the Constitutional Court, plunging the country's politics into turmoil and dealing a blow to its most powerful political dynasty.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra was dismissed for violating ethics in a leaked June phone call, where she could be heard calling Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen uncle and criticising the Thai army, amid worsening border tensions with Cambodia.
The call, leaked by Hun Sen himself, damaged her reputation and critics accused her of undermining the country's army.
The ruling makes Paetongtarn, the daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the fifth prime minister to be removed from office by the court since 2008.
On Friday, the court's nine judges voted six to three against Paetongtarn, ruling that her actions had violated ethical standards expected of her office.
The court stated that Paetongtarn possessed a personal relationship that appeared to align with Cambodia and dismissed her claims that the call was a personal negotiation to... bring back peace without using violence.
In its ruling, it expressed that the incident caused the public to cast doubt on whether her actions would benefit Cambodia more than the nation's interest. Paetongtarn acknowledged the court's verdict but insisted she was trying to save lives.
The call with Hun Sen, a former close friend of her father, came as tensions rose on the Thai-Cambodia border, culminating in a violent conflict.
Hours after her dismissal, the conservative Bhumjaithai party announced it had gained enough support from other parties to form a new government under leader Anutin Charnvirakul.
Paetongtarn's ousting is not just significant for her political career; it represents a dire challenge to the legacy of the Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics for years.
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