Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday from her duties pending an ethics probe into a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, escalating a political crisis for the Shinawatra family and their Pheu Thai party.
The court, in a 7-2 decision, accepted a petition from 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching constitutional ethical standards during a June 15, 2025, call aimed at de-escalating a border dispute with Cambodia.
In the leaked recording, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticized a Thai military commander as her “opponent,” prompting accusations of undermining Thailand’s military and sovereignty. She has 15 days to present her defense, with Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit acting as caretaker PM.
The suspension follows public outrage, with 10,000 protesters rallying in Bangkok on June 28, 2025, demanding Paetongtarn’s resignation, and the Bhumjaithai party withdrawing from her coalition, leaving it with a slim parliamentary majority.
Her approval rating plummeted to 9.2% in June from 30.9% in March, per a National Institute of Development Administration poll. Paetongtarn apologized, defending her remarks as a “negotiation tactic” to avoid conflict after a May 28 clash killed a Cambodian soldier, but conservative lawmakers and nationalist groups accused her of “kowtowing” to Cambodia.
She appointed herself culture minister in a cabinet reshuffle approved on July 1, though it’s unclear if she can assume the role while under investigation.
Concurrently, Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, appeared in Bangkok’s Criminal Court on July 1 for a pre-trial hearing on lèse-majesté charges stemming from a 2015 interview with South Korean media, where he allegedly insulted Thailand’s monarchy—a crime punishable by up to 15 years.
Thaksin, 75, who returned from 15 years in exile in August 2023, denies the charges and has pledged allegiance to the crown. His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, described him as “chill” outside court, where media access was barred. A dozen supporters rallied, with 79-year-old Wanlee Iamcharat calling the charges unjust. The trial is expected to last weeks, with a verdict not due for at least a month.
The dual legal battles highlight Thailand’s ongoing power struggle between the Shinawatra family and the conservative, pro-military, pro-royalist establishment. Political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak noted a “direct undeniable linkage” between the cases, warning of a “critical dilution” of the Shinawatra brand.
The Pheu Thai party, dominant since 2001, has faced repeated disruptions, with Thaksin ousted by a 2006 coup, his sister Yingluck by a 2014 court ruling and coup, and predecessor Srettha Thavisin removed in August 2024 for ethics violations.
Opposition leader Rangsiman Rome of the People’s Party called for new elections, arguing Paetongtarn has “lost her moral authority.” Analysts, including Purawich Watanasukh, warn that without democratic reforms to curb unelected institutions like the Constitutional Court, Thailand’s political instability will persist.
What You Should Know
- Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended as Thailand’s PM on July 1, 2025, over a leaked call with Hun Sen, accused of breaching ethics by criticizing a Thai military commander.
- The Constitutional Court’s probe could lead to her dismissal, with Deputy PM Suriya Juangroongruangkit as acting PM; Paetongtarn has 15 days to respond.
- Thaksin Shinawatra faces a lèse-majesté trial for a 2015 interview, risking 15 years in prison, with a verdict expected after weeks.
- The Pheu Thai party’s coalition is fragile after Bhumjaithai’s exit, and Paetongtarn’s approval rating has dropped to 9.2%, fueling protests and no-confidence vote threats.
- The Shinawatra family’s legal woes reflect a broader conflict with Thailand’s royalist-military elite, with calls for democratic reforms to end recurring instability.
