Paetongtarn Shinawatra Removed as Thai PM After Controversial Call With Hun Sen

BANGKOK, THAILAND — Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been removed from office by Thailand’s Constitutional Court after it ruled that her leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen violated ethical standards.

The call, made on June 15 during deadly border clashes, sparked nationalist backlash and led to her suspension on July 1.

Paetongtarn, who became Thailand’s youngest prime minister in August 2024, served just one year before being ousted.

In the leaked recording, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and appeared to criticize the Thai military’s actions during the skirmishes that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

She was heard saying, “If Hun Sen wants anything, just tell me, and I will take care of it.”

Both governments confirmed the audio’s authenticity, and her remarks triggered accusations that she had compromised Thailand’s national interests.

Paetongtarn later apologized to the public, saying her comments were a diplomatic strategy to ease tensions.

Although suspended from her prime ministerial duties in July, Paetongtarn remained in Cabinet as culture minister following a reshuffle..

Today’s ruling formalizes her removal and intensifies pressure on the ruling Pheu Thai Party to nominate a successor.

The scandal has deepened public scrutiny of her leadership and exposed fractures within the coalition government, which is already struggling with economic challenges and delayed policy rollouts.

The court’s decision reflects a broader trend in Thai politics, where judicial rulings and military interventions have repeatedly reshaped leadership over the past two decades.

Prime ministers have been removed, parties dissolved, and lawmakers banned, often at critical political junctures.

Just last week, Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, narrowly avoided prison in a lèse-majesté case that could have carried a 15-year sentence.

The Shinawatra family continues to play a dominant and divisive — role in Thai politics.

Paetongtarn is the latest in her family to be ousted from power.

Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was removed before the 2014 coup that brought former army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha to power for nine years.

Her uncle, Somchai Wongsawat, was dismissed by court order in 2008.

Thaksin himself was toppled in 2006 and spent over 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid corruption charges.

Paetongtarn rose to power after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed by the same court last year.

Srettha had led Pheu Thai into a coalition with conservative and pro-military rivals following the 2023 election, blocking the progressive Move Forward Party from forming a government.

That alliance allowed Thaksin to return to Thailand and resume influence behind the scenes.

However, internal divisions and stalled policy initiatives have weakened the coalition’s credibility.

According to NewsDay, the leaked phone call accelerated those tensions and led to the resignation of Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who also stepped down as deputy prime minister and interior minister.

Pheu Thai must now nominate a new prime minister, with former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri seen as the party’s last viable option.

His candidacy faces uncertainty, as coalition support has fractured.

If Parliament fails to confirm a new leader, fresh elections may be called — a risky prospect for Pheu Thai, whose popularity has declined amid growing support for the opposition People’s Party.

Despite the turmoil, some analysts believe the establishment may still prefer a Thaksin-aligned government to prevent sweeping reforms proposed by the opposition.

That calculation could shape coalition negotiations and determine whether Chaikasem — or a compromise candidate can secure enough votes.

Thailand now faces another political turning point, defined by legal battles, dynastic rivalries, and the ongoing tension between electoral mandates and entrenched power.