CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; ADDS NEW PRIME MINISTER’S CONFIRMATION
By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Phumtham Wechayachai was appointed Thailand's new acting prime minister Thursday amid a deepening political crisis, according to The Nation newspaper.
Phumtham said that while he "can exercise all powers granted by the Constitution," referring to a possible dissolution by the House of Representatives, he added that "there is no justification for such actions at this time.”
His appointment as premier came after he served as deputy prime minister and defense minister in the now-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Cabinet.
He will also continue to head the Interior Ministry office.
The new Cabinet was sworn in Thursday, with Paetongtarn taking the head of the Culture Ministry.
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn administered the oath of office to the new Cabinet members, led by former acting Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Paetongtarn for a recent leaked audio linked to a border dispute with Cambodia, giving her 15 days to defend herself, after she allegedly criticized her country’s military concerning escalating border tensions with Cambodia.
The court accepted charges of gross ethical misconduct and dishonesty against Paetongtarn before she was suspended.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been simmering since May 28, when troops exchanged fire along the frontier, leaving one Cambodian soldier dead.
The two Southeast Asian nations have since closed their borders.
*Aamir Latif in Karachi contributed to this report