Thai Court Removes Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra After Ethics Ruling

 

Thailand’s Constitutional Court removed suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Friday, ruling that a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader violated ethics standards. The decision throws the country back into political uncertainty.

Paetongtarn, 38, became Thailand’s youngest prime minister in August 2024 but lasted just one year in the role. In a 6–3 ruling, the court declared she “lacks the qualifications and possesses prohibited characteristics” under the constitution.

The Phone Call at the Center of the Case

The case stemmed from a June 15 call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, during a period of escalating border clashes. In the recording, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle,” appeared to criticize Thailand’s military response, and told him, “If you want anything, just tell me, and I will take care of it.”

Her remarks, confirmed as authentic by both sides, sparked outrage inside Thailand, where nationalist sentiment was already high. Critics accused her of undermining national interests. Weeks later, fighting between the two countries killed at least 38 people, mostly civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The court concluded that Paetongtarn had “lacked demonstrable honesty and integrity” and “seriously violated ethical standards.”

She defended herself by saying her words were part of a negotiating tactic meant to calm tensions. After Friday’s ruling, she thanked her supporters at a news conference, saying:

“This is another time that the court’s decision has created a sudden political change. As a Thai, I love my nation, religion, and the king.”

Part of a Family Pattern

The Shinawatra family has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades, but its leaders have repeatedly been forced from office.

Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 coup and lived abroad for more than 15 years to avoid corruption charges.

Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was removed as prime minister in 2014, shortly before another military coup.

Her uncle, Somchai Wongsawat, briefly served as prime minister in 2008 before being removed by a court ruling.

Paetongtarn herself came to power after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was dismissed by the same court in 2024.

Courts and Coups in Thai Politics

Thai courts have played a decisive role in shaping the country’s political landscape. Over the past two decades, multiple governments have been dissolved, prime ministers removed, and lawmakers banned from politics. Military interventions have added to the instability, most recently in the 2014 coup that brought Prayut Chan-o-cha to power for nearly a decade.

What Comes Next

With Paetongtarn removed, her cabinet is automatically dismissed, though ministers will stay in acting roles until parliament selects a new prime minister. The Pheu Thai Party must put forward a candidate, with former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri the most likely option. Whether he can secure enough votes from coalition partners remains uncertain.

The coalition has already been weakened. Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul resigned as deputy prime minister and interior minister after the leaked call and has since quit the alliance.

If Pheu Thai cannot rally support around a replacement, new elections may be triggered — a scenario in which the party would be entering from a weakened position.

Analysts note, however, that the political establishment may still see Pheu Thai as a preferable option compared to the opposition People’s Party, which has surged in popularity with promises of reform and challenges to entrenched institutions.