Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra forced to quit after court ruling

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been found guilty of violating the constitution and forced to step down.

The Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that she had abused her position when she transferred her national security chief to another post in 2011 which had benefited a relative. Yingluck denies any wrongdoing.

The decision comes after six months of protests in the capital, Bangkok, aimed at toppling the government.

Yingluck will be replaced by Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong and a caretaker government will take over until a general election is called on July 20. Cabinet ministers not implicated in the case will be allowed to stay on.

Yingluck’s supporters accuse the Constitutional Court of bias against the government and are preparing mass street rallies against the decision.