BANGKOK -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in the latest backlash to a leaked recording of a phone call with Cambodia's Hun Sen, throwing Thailand further into political turbulence.
In its meeting on Tuesday, the court decided to accept a petition filed last month by 36 senators seeking Paetaongtarn's removal. The senators said her handling of the phone call -- in which she refers to a Thai army commander as an "opponent" -- showed a lack of responsibility and integrity, and put the country's sovereignty at risk.
She will be suspended until the court reaches the final decision on the case, effective Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the Constitutional Court, the nine judges unanimously agreed to accept the petition, and seven agreed to suspend Paetongtarn from her duties as prime minister.
The court said that although all the facts have not yet been proved, the country could face severe danger if it allows Paetongtarn to continue acting as prime minister and deciding crucial issues.
"The court, then, orders the accused person not to exercise her power on the issues of security, international affairs and fiscal issues until the court reaches a verdict."
Speaking to reporters after the court decision, Paetongtarn apologized to the public over the leaked call.
"I assure you that what I said in the audio clip has come from my intention to protect the country's sovereignty, and to save the lives of our soldiers," given the border disputes between the two nations. "However, the way I did it might be unpleasant for some Thai people, and I apologize for that," she said.
"From now on, I will still continue to do my duty as a Thai person, although I cannot do my duty as prime minister."
The leaked audio forced Paetongtarn into a corner, especially after a key party left the ruling coalition two weeks ago.
On Saturday, anti-government protestors gathered in a central Bangkok neighborhood, with police estimating the crowd at more than 30,000. The demonstrators demanded Paetongtarn's resignation and asked coalition parties to withdraw from the government.
According to an opinion poll of 2,500 people conducted June 19-25 by Thailand's National Institute of Development Administration, 9% said Paetongtarn was the most suitable prime minister, down from 31% in the previous survey in March. Results of the latest poll were released on Sunday.
Paetongtarn, 38, was elected as prime minister last August after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from office by the Constitutional Court over a cabinet appointment that was ruled unconstitutional.
Her suspension comes with the country's economy slowing, with Thailand having not concluded tariff talks with the U.S. and with the core tourism sector slumping as the number of Chinese visitors plummets.
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