Thailand appointed its second interim prime minister this week, after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended by the Constitutional Court after a controversial phone talk with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, 71, was appointed on Thursday as interim prime minister, just two days after Paetongtarn’s suspension. He took over from Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who held the position for only one day, following approval at a cabinet meeting endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, according to Al Jazeera.
Paetongtarn’s suspension stems from a leaked June phone call in which she referred to Hun Sen as “Uncle” and criticized a Thai army commander. The Constitutional Court, acting on a petition by 36 senators, is investigating possible breaches of ministerial ethics.
Meanwhile, her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, faces a separate royal defamation case. A court review this month of his previous hospital detention may determine whether he returns to jail, Al Jazeera reported.