Bangkok: Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday ruled against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, dismissing her from office over an ethics breach linked to a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen. The court found that Paetongtarn, who assumed the post about a year ago, had compromised the country’s constitutional standards of leadership by engaging in a conversation that critics say undermined Thailand’s national security interests. The ruling immediately stripped her of the position, capping weeks of uncertainty that began when she was suspended on July 1, pending the outcome of the case.

In her absence, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been managing government affairs and is expected to continue leading the Cabinet in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is selected by Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical choice—either approve a successor from among the current coalition or dissolve Parliament to pave the way for fresh elections. The uncertainty over Thailand’s political direction is likely to fuel debates both domestically and internationally, especially at a time when the country faces economic headwinds and regional security challenges.

The case stems from a leaked phone call on June 15 between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, in which she appeared unusually cordial while addressing sensitive territorial disputes along the Thai-Cambodian border. The conversation triggered public uproar as Paetongtarn was accused of discrediting a senior Thai army general and showing undue friendliness to a foreign counterpart on matters of sovereignty. While supporters argue that her intentions were to reduce cross-border tensions, the court concluded that her conduct breached the ethical boundaries expected of the nation’s highest officeholder, leading to her removal from power.