PM Paetongtarn faces ethics probe over mini-heart gesture
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces a new accusation by serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, who claims she committed a serious offence by making a mini-heart gesture while in her civil service dress uniform.
Ruangkrai, known for seeking the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party for alleged domination by Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin, has focused his efforts on the ethics section of the Constitution. His recent submission to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) requests an investigation into whether Paetongtarn’s action during a photo session violated sections 17, 21, and 27 (2) of the Constitution.
Ruangkrai also questioned if the case should be forwarded to the Supreme Court under Section 235 (1) and if PM Paetongtarn could face a lifetime political ban under Section 235 (4) for allegedly encouraging other Cabinet ministers to make the gesture while in uniform. The photo session took place at Government House, with most Cabinet members following her lead until an official advised that the gesture was inappropriate for people in uniform.
Thai netizens expressed mixed reactions, with few perceiving the gesture as an ethical breach.
“Videos of the event are easily accessible to the public on TikTok and elsewhere and could damage public faith in the dignity of the premiership.”
Ruangkrai, a former senator and member of the Palang Pracharath Party, has a notable history of targeting politicians. He famously played a role in the court-ordered removal of Samak Sundaravej from the prime ministership in 2008 due to receiving an honorarium from a TV cooking show.
Simultaneously, Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the royalist Thai Pakdee Party, plans to petition the Election Commission (EC) today to investigate Thaksin’s alleged undue influence over the Pheu Thai Party.
Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra. The 38 year old Thai PM became the Pheu Thai leader and stepped into the role of prime minister after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha Thavisin on August 14 for an ethical violation related to appointing ex-convict Pichit Chuenban, Thaksin’s former lawyer, to the Cabinet, reported Bangkok Post.
