BANGKOK — Thailand’s political turmoil deepened this week as Phumtham Wechayachai was named acting prime minister after Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended by the Constitutional Court over an ethics investigation.

The court’s decision Tuesday ousted Paetongtarn pending a lengthy probe into her controversial call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, which sparked backlash and accusations she undermined the military.

Phumtham, 71, a veteran ally of the Shinawatra family, takes over after a brief interim by Suriya Jungrungreangkit. Known as “Big Comrade” for his leftist roots, Phumtham is viewed as loyal to Paetongtarn and her father Thaksin.

Paetongtarn, meanwhile, retains her cabinet post as culture minister in the reshuffled government sworn in Thursday, as Thailand struggles with a weak economy and a tense territorial dispute with Cambodia.