Thailand has been thrown into fresh political turmoil after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, dealing a significant blow to the country’s most powerful political dynasty.
The 39-year-old leader was dismissed for violating ethical standards following a leaked June phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. In the recording, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised the Thai army, at a time of escalating border tensions between the two countries.
The call, which was leaked by Hun Sen himself, sparked outrage and raised questions about her loyalty. Critics accused her of undermining Thailand’s national security, while the court ruled that her remarks created doubt about whether her actions benefited Cambodia more than Thailand’s interests.
In its verdict, six of the nine judges voted to remove her from office, making her the fifth Thai prime minister to be ousted by the court since 2008. Paetongtarn accepted the ruling but maintained that her intention was to prevent violence and save lives.
Her downfall comes as tensions along the Thai-Cambodia border erupted into a five-day conflict weeks after the call, leaving dozens dead and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.
Paetongtarn, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and niece of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, had only joined the Pheu Thai Party in 2021. She rose to power after her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was removed by the same court for appointing a Cabinet member with a criminal conviction.
Shortly after her dismissal, the conservative Bhumjaithai Party announced it had secured enough parliamentary support to form a new government under its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul. The party pledged to prioritise resolving the border dispute with Cambodia and to dissolve parliament within four months.
Paetongtarn’s removal marks the third time a member of the Shinawatra family has had their premiership cut short. Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 military coup, while Yingluck was removed by the Constitutional Court in 2014. Although Thaksin has long retired from official politics, his influence has remained strong—until now. With Paetongtarn’s dismissal, questions are being raised about the future of the Shinawatra dynasty in Thai politics.
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