Thai PM Paetongtarn Faces Ethics Probe, Suspension/ Newslooks/ WASHINTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a leaked call with Cambodia’s Senate leader. The case has triggered political turmoil amid nationalist protests and deep establishment tensions. Her suspension echoes her family’s turbulent political legacy.
Thailand PM Suspension Quick Looks
- Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra
- Ethics probe launched over leaked call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen
- Border tensions rise after deadly clash on May 28
- Deputy PM Suriya likely to become acting prime minister
- Paetongtarn is daughter of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra
- Nationalist protests demand her resignation over leaked call
- Court gave Paetongtarn 15 days to submit her defense
- Thailand’s royalist establishment accused of using courts politically
Deep Look
Thailand Suspends Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Amid Ethics Investigation Over Leaked Cambodia Call
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand plunged into political uncertainty Tuesday as the nation’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office over a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, triggering an ethics investigation with potential repercussions for the country’s fragile coalition government.
The court voted unanimously to accept the ethics complaint against Paetongtarn and, by a 7-2 margin, ordered her suspension pending further inquiry. She now has 15 days to present evidence in her defense.
Border Tensions Fuel Political Crisis
The controversy erupted following a deadly border clash on May 28 that left one Cambodian soldier dead. Paetongtarn’s call with Hun Sen, leaked to the public, fueled nationalist outrage and protests in Bangkok over fears she compromised Thailand’s security interests and sought to appease Cambodia.
Speaking after the court’s decision, Paetongtarn vowed to cooperate fully with the legal process.
“I only thought about what to do to avoid troubles, what to do to avoid armed confrontation, for the soldiers not to suffer any loss,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to accept it if I said something with the other leader that could lead to negative consequences.”
Paetongtarn thanked supporters and apologized to those distressed by the leaked call, departing Government House shortly after making her remarks.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is expected to step in as acting prime minister, although an official announcement remains pending.
Cabinet Shakeups And Coalition Fractures
Earlier Tuesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved a Cabinet reshuffle after a major coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, exited the government over the phone call scandal. The reshuffle removed Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai’s leader, from his post as deputy prime minister.
Paetongtarn had been slated to add the culture ministry to her duties under the new Cabinet. However, her suspension now casts doubt on whether she can continue in any ministerial capacity.
Nationalist Protests And Corruption Investigations
The leaked call has ignited nationalist fervor, with thousands of conservative protesters gathering in central Bangkok over the weekend to demand Paetongtarn’s resignation.
Beyond the ethics inquiry, Paetongtarn faces an investigation by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which could also result in her removal if misconduct is found.
Senators Driving The Push Against Paetongtarn
Thailand’s political establishment remains deeply divided, and the courts have often played a decisive role in removing leaders seen as threats to the royalist elite.
The complaint against Paetongtarn was filed by senators elected last year to replace the military-appointed upper chamber established after the 2014 coup. Many of these senators themselves face allegations of rigging the election that brought them to power.
In addition to Paetongtarn, senators have also filed ethics complaints against two of her ministers: Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and former defense minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is now poised to become interior minister.
On May 14, the court accepted a petition accusing both men of abusing their power by initiating investigations into alleged Senate vote rigging. The same day, the court partially suspended Tawee from overseeing the Department of Special Investigation, which is handling the case.
A Political Dynasty Under Siege
At 38, Paetongtarn is the latest figure from Thailand’s influential Shinawatra family to rise—and potentially fall—from the nation’s top office. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 coup and later fled into exile after facing corruption charges. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s first female prime minister, suffered a similar fate in 2014.
Paetongtarn’s suspension fuels speculation she may follow in her family’s footsteps.
Meanwhile, Thaksin himself remains embroiled in legal battles. On Tuesday, he attended a court hearing over allegations he defamed the monarchy during a 2015 press conference in Seoul, South Korea. He’s also under investigation for allegedly receiving special treatment after returning to Thailand in 2023 to serve an eight-year prison sentence for corruption.
Despite his sentence, Thaksin spent no nights behind bars, having been transferred to a hospital almost immediately upon his return. He later received a royal pardon, sparking public anger and further questions about his influence behind the scenes.
Critics argue Thaksin’s privileged treatment highlights enduring double standards in Thailand’s justice system and fuels public disillusionment.
As Paetongtarn battles to save her political career, her suspension marks the latest chapter in Thailand’s ongoing saga of political turmoil, dynastic power struggles, and establishment resistance to populist movements.
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