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Thai court removes prime minister from office

Aug 29, 2025, 6:16am EDT
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Suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters.

Thailand’s constitutional court sacked the country’s prime minister, throwing the country into renewed political turmoil.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office over ethical misconduct surrounding a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader in which she was critical of her nation’s military following a border dispute with Phnom Penh.

Critics argue Thailand’s military and royalist establishment undermine political parties and elected governments through court cases: Paetongtarn — the daughter of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is himself embroiled in a legal battle in Thailand — is the fifth premier to be removed by justices since 2008, and it is now unclear who will replace her.

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