BANGKOK. Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra while it investigates allegations that she breached ethical standards in a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian official regarding a recent border clash.
The court voted 7-2 to immediately suspend Paetongtarn from duty and gave her 15 days to respond to the accusations. The call, which was leaked to the public, reportedly showed her being overly deferential to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, raising concerns about her handling of a May 28 armed confrontation that left one Cambodian soldier dead.
Paetongtarn defended her actions, saying she aimed to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed. “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,” she said after the court decision. She also apologized for any distress caused by the leaked conversation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit has been appointed as acting prime minister, according to Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil.
The leaked call sparked strong criticism, including from thousands of conservative and nationalist protesters who rallied in Bangkok demanding Paetongtarn’s resignation. In the recording, she appeared to downplay the concerns of a Thai military commander and referred to him as “an opponent,” while urging Hun Sen not to listen to his statements on the border issue.
The suspension adds to Thailand’s ongoing political volatility. Paetongtarn, 38, is the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the prime ministership and now the third to face potential removal from office. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 coup and later exiled, while her aunt, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, was removed by court order in 2014 before a military takeover.
Political observers say the suspension reflects deeper tensions within Thailand’s fragile democracy. “Without foundational reforms, any government, regardless of who leads it, will remain vulnerable to the same forces that have repeatedly disrupted Thailand’s democratic development,” said Purawich Watanasukh, a political science lecturer at Thammasat University.
The court’s decision comes as the country grapples with an economic slowdown and growing public dissatisfaction with the Pheu Thai-led government.
Earlier Tuesday, before the court’s suspension order, King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved a Cabinet reshuffle following the exit of a major coalition party. Paetongtarn had also been appointed culture minister, though it remains unclear whether she will be allowed to assume the new role.
In addition to the Constitutional Court case, Paetongtarn faces separate investigations by another agency over the leaked call, which could also lead to her removal from office.
Meanwhile, her father Thaksin is confronting his own legal troubles. On Tuesday, he appeared in court on a charge of defaming the monarchy in 2015 and is also under investigation for how he was allowed to return from exile in 2023. Though sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power, he was swiftly transferred to a hospital and later granted clemency due to his age and health.
Critics argue Thaksin did not serve his sentence properly and could still be forced to return to prison. His controversial return and deal-making with former rivals have also alienated many of his longtime supporters.
The developments have cast uncertainty over the Shinawatra family’s political future and Thailand’s path toward democratic stability.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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- Venus L Peñaflor
