Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday. The suspension came after the court accepted a petition that accused her of breaching ethics during a recent border dispute with Cambodia.
The court stated, “The Constitutional Court, with a majority of 7-2, suspends the respondent from Prime Ministerial duty from 1 July until the Constitutional Court has made its ruling.”
Ethics Case Triggers Suspension
A group of conservative lawmakers filed the petition. They alleged that Paetongtarn violated the constitution’s requirement for “evident integrity” and “ethical standards” by engaging in a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen.
In the leaked audio, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen “uncle” and described a Thai regional army commander as “my opponent.” These comments drew intense criticism online and in political circles.
Protests and Political Pressure Mount
As public anger grew, protesters filled the streets of Bangkok last weekend. They demanded her removal from office. Many were upset about her “apparent appeasement” of Hun Sen and her “disrespect” toward the Thai military, as opposition leaders put it.
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Ministry summoned Cambodia’s ambassador last week. Officials delivered a letter condemning the leak of the phone conversation.
Paetongtarn Responds to Court Action
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Paetongtarn admitted, “If you ask me whether I’m worried, I am.” She also said she would “accept and follow the court process,” though she expressed concern about the disruption to her work.
Still, she faces mounting pressure to resign. Her critics accuse her of damaging national security and bending to foreign influence.
Background of the Conflict
The crisis began after an armed clash at the Thai-Cambodian border on May 28. The confrontation led to the death of a Cambodian soldier. The leaked phone call added fuel to the fire, showing Paetongtarn in dialogue with Hun Sen—who, despite stepping down in 2023, still wields major influence in Cambodia.
Following that, conservative senators claimed the prime minister’s tone in the call “weakened Thailand’s stance” and undermined the authority of the military.
While the suspension is in effect, the court has not set a date for its final ruling. For now, Thailand faces uncertainty at the top as tensions remain high.