Thailand’s constitutional court has suspended prime minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, while it investigates allegations of ethical misconduct stemming from a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former strongman Hun Sen. The decision has sparked renewed political uncertainty in a country already grappling with fragile coalitions and a history of abrupt leadership changes, say media reports.
In a unanimous decision, the court accepted a petition filed by 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of violating ethical standards in her handling of a sensitive diplomatic exchange. The court voted 7–2 to suspend her from her prime ministerial duties while the case is under review. She has been given 15 days to respond to the allegations. Although sidelined from the top post, Ms Paetongtarn will remain in the Cabinet as culture minister following a recent reshuffle.
The scandal centres around a leaked recording of a private conversation on 15 June 2025 between Ms Paetongtarn and Cambodian senate president Hun Sen. In the audio, she is heard referring to him as 'uncle' and appears to criticise her own military in the aftermath of a deadly border clash on 28 May 2025 which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. She can also be heard urging Hun Sen not to heed opposing voices from within the Thai military and assuring him she would 'take care' of any concerns he had.
The conversation sparked a domestic firestorm, with critics accusing the prime minister of undermining national security and siding with a foreign power. Anti-government protests erupted in Bangkok over the weekend, intensifying calls for her resignation. The controversy also triggered the withdrawal of the Bhumjaithai Party, a key coalition ally, leaving Ms Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party politically exposed and scrambling to maintain parliamentary support. She now faces the dual threats of a no-confidence vote and further legal challenges.
According to a report from CNN, Ms Paetongtarn, 38, has been in office for only 10 months, having succeeded former PM Srettha Thavisin after he was dismissed by the same court for breaching ethical conduct.
Her meteoric rise rekindled hopes among supporters of the Shinawatra political dynasty, but her current suspension has cast fresh doubt on the family’s political future. Ms Paetongtarn is the third member of her family to serve as Thailand’s head of government, following her father Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, and her aunt Yingluck, who was removed from office by a court ruling in 2014.
At a press conference held after the court’s decision, Ms Paetongtarn acknowledged the ruling and defended her intentions. “I acted for the good of the country — to protect sovereignty, safeguard soldiers’ lives, and maintain peace,” she says.
She apologised to the Thai public for any distress caused, reiterating that the call was private and not meant for public dissemination. She characterised her remarks as a diplomatic strategy to defuse rising tensions with Cambodia, not a breach of national loyalty.
The suspension of a sitting prime minister over a private conversation is the latest twist in Thailand’s turbulent political landscape. In recent years, the constitutional court has played a pivotal role in shaping government leadership. The same court previously disbanded the reformist Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the 2023 general elections, and barred its leadership from politics for a decade.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia, stretching over 800km, has long been a source of friction. Although largely demarcated during the colonial era, parts of it remain disputed and have occasionally flared into military confrontations, fuelling nationalist sentiment on both sides.
With Ms Paetongtarn now under suspension and her political standing weakened, the Shinawatra legacy faces its most serious test in years. The court’s final ruling could determine not just her future, but also the stability of the current government and Thailand’s broader political trajectory.
