Thai court removes PM over leaked phone call with Cambodian leader

Thailand's political scene has been shaken after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office by the Constitutional Court. The decision came after a leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen, was made public. In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as 'uncle' and criticized the Thai army, which led to accusations that she was undermining her own country's military. The court found that her actions violated the ethical standards expected of a prime minister, and this has caused a lot of uncertainty in Thailand's government.

Paetongtarn is a member of the powerful Shinawatra family, which has played a major role in Thai politics for years. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed from office by a military coup in 2006, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also ousted by the court in 2014. Paetongtarn's removal marks the third time a member of her family has lost the prime minister position. The court said that her close relationship with Hun Sen and her comments during the phone call made people question whether she was acting in Thailand's best interests. Paetongtarn defended herself by saying she was trying to prevent violence and save lives, but the court did not accept her explanation.

With Paetongtarn gone, the Bhumjaithai party quickly announced that it had enough support to form a new government. Their leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, is expected to become the next prime minister. The party has promised to address the border dispute with Cambodia and may dissolve parliament within four months to hold new elections. The Shinawatra family's influence in Thai politics is now uncertain, and many people are wondering if they will continue to play a major role. The country is facing a period of political change, and the new government will have to deal with both internal and external challenges, especially the ongoing tensions with Cambodia.