Thailand’s political center just cracked again. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office following a 7–2 ruling by the Constitutional Court. The court accepted a petition from 36 senators alleging a breach of ministerial ethics. The trigger was a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. The call was made on June 15, days after a fatal border clash that left one Cambodian soldier dead. The fallout has been immediate. The ruling party is fractured. The coalition is bleeding. The military is watching.
The call was supposed to cool tensions. It did the opposite. In the recording, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and labeled a Thai army commander “an opponent.” She also reportedly told Hun Sen, “If there’s anything you want, I will take care of it.” That line hit a nerve. The Thai military holds institutional weight. Publicly criticizing a senior commander during a national security crisis crossed a line. The audio was leaked by Cambodian media and circulated widely. Protests followed. One coalition party walked. The king approved a cabinet reshuffle hours before the court ruling.
Paetongtarn is now suspended from her prime ministerial duties. She remains in the cabinet as culture minister, a role she was appointed to just before the suspension. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is serving as acting prime minister. Paetongtarn has 15 days to submit her defense. A separate investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission is also underway. That probe could lead to permanent disqualification.
The political cost is already visible. Her approval rating has dropped to 9.2%, down from 30.9% in March. The Pheu Thai coalition is hanging by a thread. A no-confidence vote is expected. The Bhumjaithai Party has exited the alliance. Protesters filled Victory Monument over the weekend demanding her resignation. Many waved Thai flags and wore fatigues. The message was clear.
The Shinawatra name still carries weight, but the dynasty is fraying. Paetongtarn is the third family member to hold the office. Her father Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup. Her aunt Yingluck was removed by court order in 2014. Both were accused of ethics violations. Both were forced out. Now the daughter faces the same path. The court gave her 15 days.
Sources
https://www.dw.com/en/thailand-what-now-after-pm-paetongtarns-suspension/a-73104717