Thailand Plunged Into Political Uncertainty as Court Removes Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Thailand was thrown into fresh political turmoil on Friday after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her cabinet, ruling that she failed to uphold the ethical standards required of her office.
The daughter of billionaire former leader Thaksin Shinawatra had already been suspended in July following a leaked phone call with former Cambodian strongman Hun Sen. In that call, she addressed him as “uncle” and referred to a Thai military commander as her “opponent,” comments that sparked uproar at home and fed accusations she had placed personal ties above national interest.
By a 6–3 vote, the court declared her actions had damaged public trust and created suspicion that she was siding with Cambodia in the long-running border dispute. “Her actions diminished confidence in her as prime minister and placed personal interests above the country’s,” one judge read aloud.
The ruling not only removed Paetongtarn from office but also dissolved her cabinet, leaving Thailand without a clear leader and deepening the fragility of the ruling coalition.
A Controversial Call
The uproar centered on her private conversation with Hun Sen, released online to Bangkok’s fury. Critics said her tone weakened Thailand’s position, while conservative lawmakers accused her of undermining the powerful military. The fallout drove her coalition partner to walk out, nearly collapsing her government even before the court became involved.
Despite defending herself—arguing that her intentions were for the good of the nation and not for personal gain—Paetongtarn’s explanation did little to calm political opponents.
No Clear Successor
The question of who will lead Thailand now is unsettled. Under the constitution, only those nominated for prime minister in the 2023 general election are eligible, but many of those names are either politically unacceptable, legally entangled, or unfit to serve. A snap election appears the logical path, but it remains unclear whether the acting prime minister has the authority to call one.
A Familiar Battle
The crisis highlights Thailand’s long-standing political divide: the pro-military, royalist establishment versus the Shinawatra family’s movement, which has dominated elections for two decades. Paetongtarn is now the sixth Shinawatra-aligned prime minister to be brought down by court rulings—continuing a cycle that has shaped the country’s modern history.
Meanwhile, the fallout of her call with Hun Sen has strained ties between Thailand and Cambodia. In July, tensions boiled over into deadly clashes along the disputed border, leaving more than 40 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
As the political dust settles, Thailand finds itself leaderless, divided, and facing both domestic unrest and regional uncertainty.
