(Phnom Penh, 3rd) Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phongtham has expressed confidence that suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn will pass the Constitutional Court's review and emphasized that the Pheu Thai Party has no plans to nominate another person to replace her.
According to Nation News, on Wednesday (July 2), Phongtham said in an interview that Paetongtarn is in good condition and has encouraged cabinet ministers to continue working hard for the country. "She said that she’s like on a vacation now, while awaiting the court’s verdict."
On Tuesday (1st), the Thai Constitutional Court accepted an impeachment petition submitted by 36 senators and voted to suspend Paetongtarn’s post as prime minister. The petition accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty with respect to a phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, thus violating constitutional moral standards.
After the leaked audio recording of the call, Paetongtarn reshuffled the cabinet due to alliance parties leaving the government. The new cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday (3rd), during which Paetongtarn can still fulfill her duties as Minister of Culture. Phongtham, taking over the Ministry of the Interior, will become acting prime minister.
There had been widespread rumors that Pheu Thai planned to nominate former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri as Paetongtarn’s replacement for prime minister, but Phongtham denied this.
The leaked audio strained over 30 years of friendship between the Thaksin and Hun Sen families. Some criticized Cambodia as having intentionally leaked the recording to influence Thai politics, but Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet denied the accusations.
During a speech at an event on Tuesday, Hun Manet said Cambodia would not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. "Whatever problems happen inside your own country, please resolve them yourselves. Do not blame Cambodia. Otherwise, we will respond."
He countered that Thailand had often slandered and belittled Cambodia in the past, but Cambodia had not escalated matters in order to maintain good relations.
According to the Khmer Times, Hun Manet warned Thailand not to unilaterally block Cambodians from traveling to disputed border areas, and said Cambodia would not negotiate until Thailand reopens its border checkpoints.
Hun Manet also met with international law expert Jean-Marc Sorel on Tuesday. According to the Khmer-China Times, Cambodia has appointed Sorel along with other international lawyers to represent Cambodia in International Court of Justice arbitration regarding the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
Sorel previously assisted Cambodia in winning the Preah Vihear Temple sovereignty case at the Thai-Cambodian border from 2011 to 2013.
According to the Khmer Times, Hun Manet warned Thailand not to unilaterally block Cambodians from traveling to disputed border areas, and said Cambodia would not negotiate until Thailand reopens its border checkpoints.
Hun Manet also met with international law expert Jean-Marc Sorel on Tuesday. According to the Khmer-China Times, Cambodia has appointed Sorel along with other international lawyers to represent Cambodia in International Court of Justice arbitration regarding the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
Sorel previously assisted Cambodia in winning the Preah Vihear Temple sovereignty case at the Thai-Cambodian border from 2011 to 2013.