Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his entire cabinet must resign over the scandal surrounding his TV cooking show, the Constitutional Court said Tuesday.
The court, which said Samak had violated the constitution by accepting payments for hosting the show, ruled he must stand down immediately.
His cabinet could remain as a caretaker administration for 30 days until parliament elects a new prime minister.
"The Constitutional Court unanimously agreed that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has violated the constitution, article 267 -- therefore his ministerial position has ended," the verdict read.
"As Samak's ministerial status has ended his entire cabinet must go but they have to stay as caretaker government until the new cabinet is formed," it added.
But despite the ruling by the nine judges, Samak is not barred from standing again for prime minister, and his party has already confirmed they would elect him back to the premiership.
The court accused Samak of lying in his testimony when he said he did not receive payment from television production house Face Media following his election to the premiership.
Tax records showed he continued to receive payment.
"The suspect has fabricated his evidence," the verdict said.
9/9/2008 10:35 AM GMT
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