PM worried about suspension from duty by charter court

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra admitted today that she is worried about the prospect that she could be suspended from performing her duties, if the Constitutional Court agrees to accept the petition by a group of senators, which accuses her of committing gross ethical misconduct and being dishonest, regarding the leaked phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.

The court is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow to consider the senators’ petition.

The prime minister said that, if she were to be suspended, several unfinished jobs would be disrupted. These include the tariff talks with the United States, which are still pending, adding that she does not want the disruption.

Constitutional Court President Nakharin Mektrairat has said, however, that it is not always necessary for the court to suspend the prime minister after it accepts a petition for consideration.

The senators want Paetongtarn to be removed as prime minister, for alleged violations of the Constitution over the content of the leaked conversation.

To remain in the cabinet, in case she is suspended, it has been speculated that, in a new cabinet line-up, she would assume the culture portfolio, in addition to being prime minister.

Paetongtarn said that the Culture Ministry is important to her responsibility to oversee soft power projects, even though the Culture Ministry is regarded as a Grade B or Grade C ministry.

She claimed, however, that the possibility of her taking charge of the culture portfolio has nothing to do with the case pending with the Constitutional Court.