Paetongtarn confident she can defend herself in court

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was suspended from her prime ministerial duties by the Constitutional Court today, said she is confident she can prove that her recent phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen was made in the national interest.

Paetongtarn has 15 days to submit her defense to the Court, which accepted for deliberation charges of misconduct and serious breaches of ethical standards. The charges were filed by a group of senators.

“I made the phone call in the national interest,” she said, reiterating that she had no personal gain from the conversation.

She explained that she spoke with Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate, “in order to save the lives of our soldiers and to ensure peace.”

“It [the phone call] might have offended some people. But I will prove that it was 100 percent my effort to protect the national interest,” she said in a brief address to reporters at Government House shortly after the Court’s decision, without taking any questions.

Paetongtarn added that even if she no longer holds political office, she will continue to serve the country as a Thai citizen.

She did not comment on the recently concluded Cabinet reshuffle, in which she appointed herself Minister of Culture.

Sources in the Pheu Thai Party said the appointment was intended to ensure that Paetongtarn would retain a role in the government in anticipation of a possible suspension from her prime ministerial duties by the Constitutional Court.

Paetongtarn and the other newly appointed Cabinet members must still be formally sworn in before they can assume their official duties.

However, political observers believe her role as Minister of Culture is likely to face a legal challenge from critics.

They noted that the charges before the Constitutional Court involve allegations of misconduct and serious ethical violations, which constitutionally apply not only to the prime minister but also to Cabinet members.