Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended has been suspended by the country’s Constitutional Court amid growing political fallout from a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The court’s decision intensifies the ongoing crisis faced by the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty, which has long dominated Thai politics.
In the leaked audio clip, Paetongtarn refers to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticizes a Thai military commander—a move that outraged conservatives and triggered a petition demanding her removal. The court voted 7-2 in favor of suspension while it evaluates the petition, and she now has 15 days to mount her defense.
Deputy Prime Minister will act as the country’s leader in the interim. However, Paetongtarn will retain her newly-appointed role as Minister of Culture following a cabinet reshuffle approved just hours before her suspension.
Leaked Call Triggers National Outrage
The controversial call reportedly touched on a border dispute with Cambodia that has flared up since a Cambodian soldier was killed in late May. Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended defended the conversation, stating that it was aimed at “avoiding chaos and loss of life,” and was “100% for the country.”
But critics, particularly conservative lawmakers, accused her of undermining Thailand’s military and jeopardizing national sovereignty. Political observers say the incident is reminiscent of similar cases that unseated her father Thaksin Shinawatra and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra, both former prime ministers ousted before finishing their terms Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended.
Shinawatra Dynasty Under Pressure Again
Paetongtarn’s suspension marks yet another high-profile dismissal within the Pheu Thai Party, which has lost two prime ministers to Constitutional Court rulings in less than a year. Her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed for appointing a cabinet member with a criminal record.
Political analyst Titipol Phakdeewanich criticized the court’s influence, saying, “This has become a pattern in Thai politics… It’s not how a democratic process should function.” Since 2006, the Constitutional Court has dissolved 34 political parties, including the reformist Move Forward Party that won the most seats in 2023 but was blocked from forming a government.
Public Sentiment Shifting
Paetongtarn, 38, is Thailand’s youngest and second-ever female prime minister. However, her approval rating has plummeted from 30.9% in March to just 9.2% in the most recent poll, reflecting growing public disillusionment.
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Her leadership has been tested by a faltering economy, political instability, and now, legal battles that echo the fate of her political predecessors. Despite the court’s action, some Thais still view the leaked conversation as a misstep rather than a crime, while others see it as a betrayal of national interests.
Thaksin Shinawatra’s Legal Troubles Return
The court’s ruling coincides with a legal case involving her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now facing charges of royal defamation over comments made in a 2015 interview with a South Korean newspaper. He returned to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in exile as part of a controversial reconciliation deal with former political rivals.
Thaksin’s trial, which began Tuesday, is one of the highest-profile lese majeste cases in recent years, further spotlighting the fragile political equilibrium in Thailand.
Read more updates on political instability in Asia.
What’s Next?
If Paetongtarn is dismissed, it would deepen the crisis of leadership within the Pheu Thai party and possibly prompt another round of political reshuffling. With the ruling coalition holding only a slim majority, instability seems inevitable.
As Thailand continues to grapple with economic slowdown and internal divisions, the future of the Shinawatra dynasty—and Thai democracy—hangs in the balance.
