Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after accepting a petition seeking her removal from office over a leaked phone call on border issues with Cambodia.

A panel of judges unanimously voted to accept the petition and ordered Ms Paetongtarn to stop performing her duties as prime minister starting from Tuesday pending a final ruling, the court said in a statement.

The court said that to prevent serious and irreparable damage, temporary measures shall be taken.

It added that the defendant was prohibited from exercising duties and powers related to national security, foreign affairs, and finance until the court delivered its ruling.

The decision came after a group of senators last month filed a petition accusing Paetongtarn of breaching the constitution by serious violation of ethical standards.

This was done over the telephone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Speaking to reporters at the government house after the ruling, Ms Paetongtarn said she humbly accepted the court’s decision and will submit an explanation within 15 days as requested.

According to local media reports, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will assume the role of acting prime minister and is set to lead new cabinet members in a swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a cabinet reshuffle as proposed earlier by Paetongtarn.

This is according to a royal command issued on Tuesday prior to the court decision, following the exit of a key party from the ruling coalition.

Ms Paetongtarn, the 38-year-old Pheu, is the Thai Party leader and the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

She was appointed last August to become Thailand’s youngest and second female prime minister after winning a parliamentary vote. 

(Xinhua/NAN)