Protests in the kingdom: Government crisis in Thailand: Prime Minister suspended

Less than a year after Thailand’s head of government Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the kingdom is in a serious government crisis: the country’s constitutional court temporarily suspended the 38-year-old from her office. It took on a petition of 36 senators that accuse the politician serious violations of ethical principles.

The suspension should apply until the court comes to a final assessment as to whether Paetongtarn has behaved unconstitutionally, the newspaper “Bangkok Post” reported. The head of government had recently become increasingly under pressure because of a leaked audio recording of a phone call with the Cambodian ex-long-term ruler and today’s Senate President Hun sen.

At the weekend, thousands of critics had demonstrated in Bangkok and demanded their resignation. Many protesters belong to the conservative “yellow shirting movement”, which with their yellow clothes – the symbolic color of the Thai king – express their loyalty to the monarchy. You had already successfully took the street against Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Both used to be heads of government and were overthrown in 2006 and 2014 for mass protests in military coups. In the current crisis, vice -headers Suriya Jungrungruangkit should now report on the official business.

What was the phone call about?

The explosive phone call in mid -June dealt with a long smoldering conflict on the approximately 800 km long border between the neighboring countries of Thailand and Cambodia. Most recently, the dispute was escalated after a change of shot between soldiers from both countries at the end of May. A Cambodian soldier had been killed.

Cambodia then imposed an import ban on food as well as fuel and gas from Thailand. Last week Thailand closed the border crossings in six provinces in response.

In her conversation with Cambodia’s strong man, Paetongtarn had described a high -ranking military in the border region as her “opponent” and addressed the Hun sen who were friends with her family as “uncle”. At the same time, she is said to have expressed himself very submissively. That caused great vertebrae. Although Paetongtarn later apologized, the second largest coalition party Bhumjaithai left the government alliance out of anger.

Youngest Thai head of government of all time

“I just tried to prevent clashes and other victims. I emphasize that I had no bad intentions,” the “Bangkok Post” quoted the suspended politician. In an explanation, she announced that she accepted the decision of the court, but only acted for the benefit of her country and the military.

When she was elected as the new head of government by Parliament last August, a woman came to power for the second time in the history of Thailand. Paetongtarn at the age of 37 was also the youngest Prime Minister of all time in the Southeast Asian country.

Caring off the new military coup

The stone-rich Shinawatra dynasty has many opponents among the nationalists. Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin is one of the richest men in the country. From 2008 he lived in exile, self -imposed and had only returned home in 2023. Shortly thereafter, he was charged because of insulting majesty. Despite many legal problems, the 75-year-old continues to be a influential string puller.

Finally, the concern was blown up again in front of a possible new coup. Fear grows especially in the important tourism industry. There have been around a dozen state pranks in Thailand since 1932.