Denial of Secret Deals Involving Thaksin and Constitutional Court
The Pheu Thai Party (PT) has firmly denied allegations that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra engaged in a secret agreement with Constitutional Court judges to influence the upcoming ruling on suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s case. The controversy centers around a leaked audio clip of Paetongtarn’s conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, which has sparked intense debate and scrutiny.
Prompong Nopparit, a former spokesperson for the Pheu Thai Party, dismissed the reports as “groundless fabrications” aimed at discrediting both Thaksin and Paetongtarn. He emphasized that these claims are not only unfounded but also threaten to undermine the credibility of the judiciary by dragging it into political matters.
The Criminal Court is set to deliver its verdict on August 22 regarding the lèse majesté and computer crime case against Thaksin. This case is seen as highly significant, given his perceived leadership role within the Pheu Thai Party. A week later, on August 29, the Constitutional Court will decide whether Paetongtarn violated ethical standards related to the leaked audio recording.
Prompong criticized those who are using the timing of these rulings to create distrust and confusion. He argued that such actions could damage the reputation of the courts, which are meant to remain impartial and above politics.
He stated that there is no cause for concern regarding Thaksin’s case, asserting that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant any alarm. Regarding Paetongtarn’s case, he highlighted that all witness testimonies, documents, and explanations provided to the court were thorough and complete. According to him, the allegations can be addressed without compromising national security.
The controversy began after a recording of a conversation between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen was circulated online on June 18. In the clip, Paetongtarn appeared to make critical remarks about the commander of the Second Army Region and repeatedly sought to appease Hun Sen, even expressing her willingness to comply with his demands.
The complaint to the court accuses her of breaching ethical standards for political office-holders. In a written clarification submitted to the court on Thursday, Paetongtarn addressed one particularly contentious remark from the clip: “If there’s anything you want, just let me know. I’ll take care of it.” She claimed these words were part of her negotiation technique, not an improper offer of favors. She explained that she was trying to appease Hun Sen, a personal friend of her father’s, and that the two families have since fallen out over the incident.
Former senator Somchai Swangkarn also refuted the rumors in a Facebook post. He clarified that the trip by certain Constitutional Court judges to India from August 4 to 9 was an official study program, not a secret negotiation. He called the claims “completely untrue,” citing clear evidence published on the court’s official website about the judges’ visit.
According to the site, the president of the court, along with several judges, traveled to India as part of the Executive-Level Constitutional Court Officials Training Programme (Batch 1). The delegation met India’s chief justice, visited the Supreme Court and Delhi University’s law faculty, and paid a courtesy call on the Thai ambassador in New Delhi.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, the party’s secretary-general, confirmed that Paetongtarn plans to appear in court in person on August 21, her birthday, when the inquiry session is scheduled. When asked if the Pheu Thai Party had prepared a contingency plan in case the prime minister faced a political mishap, Sorawong responded that they had not. He expressed full confidence in the prime minister’s integrity and stated that everything would be dealt with based on the facts.
Regarding potential successors, Sorawong mentioned veteran nominee Chaikasem Nitisiri, who has previously indicated that anyone stepping in as a prime ministerial candidate must be fully prepared for the role.