Bangkok – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, ruling that she had committed ethical misconduct. The decision follows a controversial leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen that sparked public outrage.
Background of the Case
The Prime Minister’s remarks in the conversation provoked strong reactions across Thailand, with some citizens accusing her of betrayal. Paetongtarn issued a public apology, but the court accepted a petition alleging ethical misconduct and suspended her pending review.
The court determined that the statements of the 39-year-old Prime Minister violated her constitutional duties. Critics argued that her position during the conversation was incompatible with Thailand’s national interests.
Historical Context of the Shinawatra Family
Paetongtarn is the fifth Shinawatra-affiliated prime minister to be removed by the Constitutional Court in the past 17 years, highlighting the court’s pivotal role in the ongoing struggle between elected governments from the Shinawatra clan and conservative, royalist, and military networks.
The Shinawatra family has faced repeated political setbacks through judicial decisions. Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 military coup, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was removed from office by the court in 2014.
Political Implications
The removal of Paetongtarn plunges Thailand further into political uncertainty, triggering the need for the selection of a third prime minister within two years. The ruling Pheu Thai Party must now nominate a new candidate capable of securing parliamentary support.
Court Proceedings and Legal Assessment
The Constitutional Court had previously suspended Paetongtarn from her duties and allowed her 15 days to submit a defense. In the final vote, the court ruled 7–2 in favor of her removal.
International Dimensions
The case also carries foreign policy implications for Thailand-Cambodia relations. The leaked recording of the phone call with Hun Sen generated both domestic and diplomatic tensions.
Outlook
This ruling is one of three significant legal cases confronting the Shinawatra family. Only last week, a court acquitted Thaksin Shinawatra of a lèse-majesté charge, a rare exoneration in Thailand’s legal system.
Thailand’s political future now depends on the Pheu Thai Party’s ability to maintain its coalition and appoint a new prime minister who can command parliamentary confidence.
Reporting date: August 29, 2025