BANGKOK: Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Tuesday as it launched a formal investigation into allegations that she violated ministerial ethics during a diplomatic row with Cambodia. The court ruled by a 7-2 majority to suspend her duties while it deliberates the case.
The controversy stems from a leaked phone call in which Paetongtarn referred to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as “uncle” and labelled a Thai military commander as her “opponent.” The call followed cross-border clashes in May that killed a Cambodian soldier and reignited a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries.
Conservative lawmakers seized on the remarks, accusing the 38-year-old premier of undermining the Thai military and breaching constitutional standards requiring ministers to uphold “evident integrity” and “ethical conduct.” The leaked recording sparked a backlash, with thousands protesting her leadership in Bangkok over the weekend and a key conservative coalition partner withdrawing support for her Pheu Thai party.
Power Struggles and Political Legacy at Play
Paetongtarn’s suspension comes less than a year after she took office and signals a sharp escalation in Thailand’s deeply polarised political landscape. Her family — particularly her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — has long been at odds with Thailand’s conservative, pro-military establishment.
The Shinawatras have consistently drawn support from the rural and urban working-class base, which views them as champions of economic reform and social mobility. However, Thailand’s elite class sees their populism as a direct threat to the traditional order, royalist institutions, and military dominance.
Political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak described the suspension as part of a larger pattern. “There is a direct, undeniable linkage between the two cases,” he said, referring to Paetongtarn’s case and her father’s concurrent legal battle. “The Shinawatra brand is facing a critical dilution, both legally and politically.”
In a sign of ongoing turmoil, Thailand’s king on Tuesday approved a cabinet reshuffle after several of Paetongtarn’s allies resigned. She had named herself the new Culture Minister and was expected to assume the role on Thursday, though it remains unclear whether she can do so while under court investigation.
Thaksin Faces Royal Defamation Trial as Family Pressure Mounts
On the same day his daughter was suspended, Thaksin Shinawatra appeared at a Bangkok criminal court to face charges of royal defamation under Thailand’s strict lese majesty laws. The charges date back to a 2015 interview he gave to South Korean media. If convicted, the 74-year-old could face up to 15 years in prison.
His trial, which began behind closed doors on Tuesday, is expected to last several weeks. Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, told reporters his client appeared “chill” and in good spirits, but declined to elaborate on his emotional state.
Thaksin’s return to Thailand last year after 15 years in self-imposed exile had reshaped Thai politics, bringing both hope and controversy. Now, with both father and daughter under legal fire, the political future of the Shinawatra family — once Thailand’s most dominant political force — hangs in the balance.
Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,, X and TikTok for latest updates
