ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing a barrage of legal complaints seeking her disqualification just days after taking office, renewing the risk of political uncertainty in the Southeast Asian nation.
A clutch of political activists and rivals have filed about a dozen complaints with the Election Commission, the anti-graft agency and prosecutors, claiming that the 38-year-old leader was in breach of ethical standards and was under the influence of her father and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The third member of the influential Shinawatra clan to occupy the top political office, Paetongtarn became Thailand’s youngest premier on August 16. While an ethical breach is grounds for disqualification under Thai laws, her Pheu Thai Party also faces dissolution for allegedly being under the influence of Thaksin, who is not a member of the group.
Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a serial petitioner known for bringing complaints against political leaders, approached the anti-graft agency on September 10 seeking a probe into whether the prime minister violated ethical standards by encouraging her Cabinet ministers to hold up their fingers in a “mini heart” shape while posing for an official photo-shoot last weekend.
