On the afternoon of August 29, the Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled with a 6:3 vote that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha lost his qualification to serve as Prime Minister since July 1 this year due to a recorded phone conversation with the President of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, which "seriously violated ethical standards," leading to the dissolution of the entire cabinet by law.
The court pointed out in the verdict that although Prayut's side questioned the legality of the recording, the court determined that the evidence was authentic and effective, and he had not previously denied the authenticity of the recording or claimed to be coerced. The court emphasized that the recording was key evidence in determining whether the respondent had engaged in improper conduct and was adopted.
The verdict further clarified that national public officials must demonstrate high integrity in their words and deeds, not only actually adhering to ethical standards but also considering public trust. The court believed that Prayut, in his communication with Hun Sen, failed to prioritize national interests, and his "seeking sympathy" approach did not constitute a legitimate diplomatic negotiation tactic but rather "damaged the dignity of Thailand and the prestige of the Prime Minister's office," shaking public trust in the government.
The court noted that although Prayut argued that the communication was private and aimed at promoting peace, his actions went beyond personal scope and were substantially in his official capacity, thus he must bear corresponding responsibilities. The verdict wrote that such actions, if exploited by foreign forces, could pose a threat to national sovereignty.
According to Article 170, Paragraph 3, and Article 82 of the Thai Constitution, the Constitutional Court ruled that Prayut lost his qualification for office, and the original cabinet was collectively dissolved by the constitution.
The judgment stemmed from a petition signed by 36 senators requesting the Constitutional Court to review whether Prayut still possessed the moral qualifications of a prime minister. The court held a closed-door deliberation in the morning and announced the verdict at 3 PM. Previously, on July 1, the Constitutional Court had ordered Prayut to suspend the exercise of prime ministerial powers from that day.
