Court suspends Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to
investigate leaked phone call
[July 01, 2025]
By JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office Tuesday pending an ethics
investigation over a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian leader.
The judges voted unanimously Tuesday to take the petition accusing her
of a breach of ethics, and voted 7-2 to suspend her from duty as a prime
minister. The court gave Paetongtarn 15 days to give evidence to support
her case.
Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the
latest border dispute with Cambodia, involving an armed confrontation on
May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. The leaked phone call
while she engaged in diplomacy with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen
set off a string of complaints and public protests.
Paetongtarn said after the court order that she would accept the process
and would do her best to defend herself, as she had no other intentions
but to protect the country and preserve peace.
“I only thought about what to do to avoid troubles, what to do to avoid
armed confrontation, for the soldiers not to suffer any loss. I wouldn't
be able to accept it if I said something with the other leader that
could lead to negative consequences,” she said.
She also thanked her supporters and apologized to people upset over the
leaked call. She left the Government House shortly after.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is expected to become the
acting prime minister, although there's been no official confirmation.
Earlier Tuesday, before the court suspended Paetongtarn, King Maha
Vajiralongkorn had endorsed a Cabinet reshuffle after a major party left
the government coalition over the leaked phone call. The reshuffle had
replaced Anutin Charvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, as deputy
prime minister.
Paetongtarn took the position of culture minister in addition to prime
minister in the new Cabinet, though it's still unclear if she can take
the oath to remain in that role.
Outrage over the call mostly revolved around Paetongtarn’s comments
toward an outspoken regional army commander and her perceived attempts
to appease Hun Sen to ease border tensions.
Thousands of conservative, nationalist-leaning protesters rallied in
central Bangkok on Saturday to demand Paetongtarn’s resignation.
Paetongtarn also faces investigations over an alleged breach of ethics
by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, whose decision
could also lead to her removal.
Senators behind moves against Paetongtarn and her ministers
The Constitutional Court last year removed her predecessor over a breach
of ethics. Thailand’s courts, especially the Constitutional Court, are
viewed as a bulwark of the royalist establishment, which has used them
and nominally independent agencies such as the Election Commission to
cripple or sink political opponents.
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Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrives at
Government House for a cabinet meeting in Bangkok, Thailand,
Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The complaint against Paetongtarn was filed by a group of senators
elected last year to replace the 250 military-appointed members who
had served in the upper chamber since 2019. Many of those senators
face allegations of rigging the election that saw a majority of
seats claimed by figures who are reportedly close to the Bhumjaithai
Party.
Some senators also filed complaints against two ministers in
Paetongtarn's administration: Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and
Phumtham Wechayachai, a former defense minister who is set to become
the new interior minister.
The court accepted a petition on May 14 accusing the two men of
abuse of power related to the investigation into the alleged Senate
vote rigging. On the same day, the court partially suspended Tawee
from overseeing the Department of Special Investigation, which is in
charge of the case.
The prime minister is a scion of a powerful family
Paetongtarn, 38, is the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, a
popular but divisive former prime minister. Her suspension raised
the possibility she could suffer a similar downfall to her
predecessors in the political dynasty founded by her father.
Paetongtarn is the third Shinawatra to hold the job after her
billionaire father and aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. Both were removed
from office and driven into exile following coups in 2006 and 2014.
Thaksin has faced several legal challenges since returning to
Thailand in 2023. On Tuesday, he attended a court hearing in a case
alleging he defamed the monarchy in 2015 in remarks to journalists
in Seoul, South Korea.
He also is under investigation over his hospital detention after his
return to face an eight-year prison term on charges related to
corruption and abuse of power.
He was transferred almost immediately to a hospital and later was
granted clemency because of his age and health without spending a
single night in jail. The complaints argue he avoided properly
serving his sentence and raise the possibilty Thaksin could be
forced to serve prison time.
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