Bangkok, Thailand — Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s embattled 38-year-old prime minister, was suspended from her role on Tuesday following a Constitutional Court decision to launch an ethics investigation over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former strongman, Hun Sen. The scandal has thrown the Southeast Asian nation back into political turmoil just 10 months after Paetongtarn assumed office.
The Constitutional Court voted to temporarily suspend her from prime ministerial duties while it deliberates on whether she breached ethical standards laid out in Thailand’s constitution. Paetongtarn will, however, remain in the Cabinet as culture minister following a recent reshuffle.
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The suspension follows a petition filed by 36 senators, who accused Paetongtarn of undermining national interests in a phone call that was later authenticated by both Thai and Cambodian officials. The conversation, held on June 15, occurred amid rising tensions over a deadly border clash that left one Cambodian soldier dead.
In the leaked audio, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and appeared to criticize her own military, suggesting Hun Sen should disregard statements from a senior Thai army commander in the northeast. She also assured Hun Sen that if he “wants anything,” he should ask her directly — remarks that critics say amounted to compromising Thailand’s sovereignty.
Public reaction has been swift and fierce. Anti-government protests erupted in Bangkok over the weekend, with demonstrators demanding her resignation. The controversy also triggered the withdrawal of the Bhumjaithai party — a key coalition partner — further weakening Paetongtarn’s governing Pheu Thai party ahead of a looming no-confidence vote in parliament.
In a press conference following the ruling, Paetongtarn defended her intentions:
“I acted for the country, to protect our sovereignty, to safeguard the lives of our soldiers, and to preserve peace,” she said. “I apologize to all my fellow Thais who may feel uneasy or upset about this matter.”
She also sought to clarify the nature of the conversation, calling it a “negotiation tactic” and claiming it was never meant to be public. “It was a private call aimed at defusing tensions, not a statement of allegiance,” she added.
Thailand and Cambodia share a long and sometimes volatile border stretching over 800 kilometers. While the two nations have cooperated economically and diplomatically in recent years, disputes — particularly over demarcation and historical grievances — have flared into deadly clashes on several occasions.
Paetongtarn’s political future remains uncertain. She took office after the court ousted her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, for a separate ethics violation. The same court also controversially dissolved the Move Forward Party — Thailand’s most-voted party in the 2023 general election — and banned its leaders from politics for a decade.
With public trust eroding, coalition support wavering, and an ethics ruling pending, Paetongtarn now faces her toughest political test yet — one that could define the next chapter of Thai politics.
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