Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from her duties pending the outcome of an ethics investigation triggered by a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician.
The country’s Constitutional Court accepted a petition submitted by 36 senators who accused Shinawatra of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards. The court voted 7–2 in favor of her suspension. She now has two weeks to formally respond to the probe.
The leaked call, which included Shinawatra criticizing a senior Thai army commander while attempting to ease tensions with Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen, sparked public protests. In Thailand, public criticism of the military—an institution with significant influence—is considered politically sensitive.
Shinawatra, 38, has apologized, stating that her remarks were part of a negotiation tactic aimed at defusing tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border. In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border clash, escalating tensions between the two nations.
The controversy has led to political fallout, with one party recently exiting the ruling coalition over the issue. Her party is now under pressure, facing the likelihood of a no-confidence vote. Meanwhile, her government’s approval ratings have plummeted—from 30.9% in March to just 9.2%, according to a recent opinion poll.
On Saturday, thousands of nationalist and conservative protesters marched in Bangkok, demanding her resignation.
Shinawatra belongs to one of Thailand’s most prominent political dynasties. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, both previously served as prime ministers. Their terms also ended amid controversy, with both ousted in military coups and facing corruption allegations.
