- Conservative legislators accuse him of walking in Cambodia.
- They allege that it has violated the constitutional provisions.
- The King of Thailand approves the reshuffle of the Petongtarn cabinet.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended Tuesday by the Country Constitutional Court because she opened an investigation into her conduct in a diplomatic dungeon with Cambodia.
Kingdom policy has been dominated for years by a battle between the conservative, pro-military and pro-royalist elite and the Shinawatra clan, which they consider a threat to the traditional social order of Thailand.
The blow to Paetongtarn, 38, came the same day as his father, former Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, faced a criminal court for allegations of royal defamation.
Paetongtarn took power less than a year ago, but will be suspended while the constitutional court deliberate if it violated ministerial ethics during the border line.
A longtime territorial dispute with Cambodia boiled cross -border clashes in May, killing a Cambodian soldier.
When Paetongtarn called the ex-Cambodian leader Hun Sen to discuss tensions, she called him “the uncle” and called a Thai military commander as “the opponent”, according to a disclosed recording who caused a general reaction.
Conservative legislators have accused her of walking in Cambodia and undermining the military, and alleging that it has violated the constitutional provisions requiring “obvious integrity” and “ethical standards” among ministers.
“The Constitutional Court with a majority of 7-2 suspends the respondent of the Prime Minister’s obligation of July 1 until the Constitutional Court made its decision,” said a statement.
“Critical dilution”
The Pheu Thai Party of Paetongtarn has already been abandoned by a key partner of the conservative coalition against the scandal and thousands of people protested against its management in Bangkok this weekend.
The king of Thailand approved on Tuesday the reshuffle of the Petongtarn cabinet after his allies left.
She attributed herself to the post of Minister of Culture and should hold the post on Thursday, but it is not clear if she could assume this role under the investigation by the Constitutional Court.
Tuesday, separately, his father Thaksin arrived before a criminal court in Bangkok to face accusations of violation of the strict laws of the majesty of the Lesss used to protect the king of Thailand from criticism.
The allegations arise from an interview of 2015 which he gave to the South Korean media and he risks up to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty. The trial should last for weeks, a verdict is not expected for at least a month after that.
A head of the court confirmed to AFP The trial began on Tuesday morning with Thaksin present, but said that the media would not be allowed to enter.
“I cannot speak in his name what he feels, but I think he seems cold,” said his lawyer Winyat Chatmontri AFP outside the court.
Thai political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak said AFP “There is a directly undeniable link between the two cases” because the brand of the Shinawatra family faces “a critical dilution”.
