Thailand’s special cabinet meeting appoints acting PM
Under regulations, following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s current Cabinet continues to govern in an acting capacity until a new administration takes office.
Phumtham Wechayachai, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Thailand, at the Government Office in Bangkok on July 3, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’s cabinet has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai as acting prime minister following Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s exit.
Chusak Sirinil, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the decision on August 30 following a special cabinet meeting, where Dr Prommin Lertsuridej was appointed as secretary-general to the prime minister.
Chusak said the Cabinet has also approved a strict framework for activities during the current transitional period to ensure stability without exceeding the limits of its mandate.
Under regulations, following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s current Cabinet continues to govern in an acting capacity until a new administration takes office.
The court on August 29 dismissed PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics violation.
The case stemmed from allegations of serious ethical violations after a recording of a phone conversation between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen was leaked.
The court quoted Paetongtarn as telling Hun Sen that the Second Army Region Commander, Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, siding with her opposite side "shows the weakness of Thailand's internal politics"./.
With this ruling, Paetongtarn will be removed from the position of Prime Minister, and her cabinet will also be dissolved to pave the way for a prime minister election and the formation of a new cabinet in the near future.
Suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appeared at the Constitutional Court on August 21 to attend a witness hearing in a case filed by 36 senators, seeking a ruling on her removal from the premiership.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on July 14 resolved to establish an inquiry panel to examine the leaked audio clip in which Paetongtarn is heard speaking with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen regarding the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. In the clip, she appears to refer to the commander of Thailand’s Second Army Area as “the other side.”
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