Thai PM Paetongtarn Suspended Over Leaked Call
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office by the Constitutional Court, which is investigating claims she violated ethical standards during a phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. In the leaked recording, Paetongtarn called him “uncle” and criticized a Thai military commander amid rising border tensions. She has since apologized and insisted, “I only thought about how to avoid chaos, avoid fighting and to avoid loss of lives.”
The court accepted a petition from 36 senators and voted 7–2 to suspend her while it reviews the case. She has 15 days to submit her defense but remains in the cabinet as culture minister following a reshuffle approved hours before the suspension. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will serve as acting leader. The controversy has dealt a blow to Paetongtarn’s ruling coalition, already weakened by the exit of a conservative ally, and sparked protests calling for her resignation.
The turmoil marks the third time a member of the Shinawatra family faces potential removal from power. Her father, Thaksin, who returned from exile last year, is also battling lese-majesty charges related to a 2015 interview. Critics argue the court’s actions reflect a pattern of targeting anti-establishment figures, as seen in the earlier removal of her predecessor and the dissolution of the reformist Move Forward Party.
