Thailand’s PM suspended after leak scandal

Thailand’s political drama took another twist Tuesday as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office by the Constitutional Court. The move follows mounting outrage over a leaked phone call in which she referred to former Cambodian leader Hun Sen as "uncle" and made disparaging remarks about a top Thai military official.

The conversation triggered a firestorm of criticism, fueling allegations that Paetongtarn had compromised national dignity and military authority. A formal petition demanding her removal reached the Constitutional Court, which voted 7-2 in favor of suspending her from duty while the case is being reviewed.

This temporary ousting makes her the third member of the influential Shinawatra family to face political downfall mid-term. Paetongtarn, 38, who made history as Thailand’s youngest-ever premier and only the second woman to hold the office, now has 15 days to submit her official response.

Until a final decision is made, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit will assume her responsibilities.

Her position was already on shaky ground. The ruling coalition, led by the Pheu Thai party, lost a key conservative partner two weeks ago, shrinking its parliamentary majority. This latest controversy could be the tipping point.

If removed, Paetongtarn would be the second Pheu Thai leader in under a year to lose the premiership. Her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was ousted in August 2024 after appointing a former convict to his cabinet.

Paetongtarn stepped into office shortly after, carrying the legacy—and the burden—of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister ousted in a military coup. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, also served as prime minister before facing a similar fate.

Public trust in Paetongtarn has eroded quickly. A recent poll showed her approval rating plummeting to just 9.2%, a sharp drop from nearly 31% in March. Though she apologised for the phone call, framing it as a diplomatic maneuver amid border tensions, critics saw it as a sign of weakness and poor judgment.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Shinawatra camp. On the same day Paetongtarn was sidelined, her father Thaksin appeared in court facing charges under Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws. The charges stem from remarks he made during a 2015 interview with a South Korean newspaper.

Thaksin, a polarizing figure who returned to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile, is widely seen as the puppet master behind Paetongtarn’s rise. His ongoing legal battle further complicates the already turbulent waters surrounding the Shinawatra name.

Once again, Thailand finds itself watching the unraveling of a political dynasty that has shaped its modern era—this time through scandal, internal fractures, and an increasingly unforgiving electorate.