Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been removed from office by the Constitutional Court for ethical violations, plunging the country into yet another political crisis.
The ruling strikes at one of Thailand’s most powerful political dynasties and comes in the wake of a major diplomatic scandal.
Her dismissal was triggered by the release of a phone call in June, in which she referred to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as “uncle” while openly criticizing the Thai military during a period of heightened tensions with Cambodia, according to BBC reports.
The call was made public by Hun Sen himself and sparked strong reactions in Thailand. Criticism of Shinawatra focused on her stance toward the military, which was interpreted as undermining its authority.
With this development, Paetongtarn becomes the fifth Thai prime minister removed from office by a Constitutional Court decision since 2008. She is also the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a figure who has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades.
